Trump Administration Sues Catholic Diocese to Seize Land for Border Wall at Mount Cristo Rey

The Trump administration has initiated legal action to seize land owned by the Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico, as part of President Trump’s border wall construction plans. The lawsuit targets approximately 14 acres of church property at the base of Mount Cristo Rey, a site featuring a 29-foot-tall limestone statue of Jesus Christ.

The move follows a complaint filed last week by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, as reported by Bloomberg. The administration is pursuing the land through eminent domain, with officials proposing a compensation offer of $183,071 for the seized acreage.

Diocese Fights Back with Religious Freedom Defenses

The Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces is opposing the seizure, arguing that Mount Cristo Rey holds deep religious significance. According to court documents, the site hosts annual pilgrimages, with as many as 40,000 faithful ascending the mountain each fall on the feast day of Christ the King to participate in mass and admire the monument.

In response to the lawsuit, the diocese’s attorneys stated:

"The mountaintop shrine is the site of annual pilgrimages. On the feast day of Christ the King each fall, as many as 40,000 faithful climb Mount Cristo Rey to 'marvel at the beauty of the monument and the view offered from the summit' and to participate in a mass."

The diocese is invoking the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to protect the land, asserting that the seizure would infringe upon religious expression rights.

Broader Resistance to Border Wall Construction

Local opposition to the border wall has led to delays and removals of completed sections in West Texas, including areas within national and state parks. However, the Trump administration has indicated that landowners have little recourse, with letters sent to private property owners warning that refusal to grant access could result in eminent domain proceedings.

As of Tuesday afternoon, neither the Department of Homeland Security nor the Diocese of Las Cruces had responded to requests for comment from Axios.