 [CNN] A Texas judge has temporarily halted the construction of a private wall along the US-Mexico border, delivering a blow to the group that has ardently supported the President Donald Trump's push for additional border barriers.
We Build the Wall, a group founded by an Air Force veteran, kicked off new construction on the Texas border last month in an attempt to showcase its barrier designs and shore up support for Trump's signature issue.
The National Butterfly Center, a 100-acre wild butterfly habitat near the project's location, argued the new construction was "illegal," and asked the court to intervene.
On Tuesday, State District Judge Keno Vasquez, of Hidalgo County, issued a temporary restraining order, halting construction of the wall for the time being.
In the order, Vasquez ruled the National Butterfly Center could face "imminent and irreparable harm" if construction were to proceed.
Javier Peña, a lawyer for the center, said the center felt compelled to take legal action because of the "hateful rhetoric" used by We Build the Wall and the destruction the barriers could cause.
We Build the Wall and the center have been at odds since the group arrived in the region. Brian Kolfage, the founder of We Build the Wall, has posted videos on Twitter calling out the center.
When asked about the order, Kolfage told CNN Tuesday, "More fake news. We haven't heard anything. We have not been served." 
|
