Catholic Diocese Fights Federal Government Over Border Wall at Mount Cristo Rey
The federal government filed an eminent domain claim in U.S. District Court on May 7, 2026, seeking to seize 14.2 acres at Mount Cristo Rey in El Paso, Texas, to build a section of the border wall. The Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces is fighting the claim, arguing it would infringe on the religious rights of pilgrims who hike to the site. The government offered approximately $183,000 for the property.
The federal government filed an eminent domain claim on May 7, 2026, seeking to seize land at Mount Cristo Rey in El Paso, Texas, to build a section of the border wall. The site is topped with a large statue of Jesus and is considered sacred by thousands of Catholic pilgrims.
The U.S. District Court in New Mexico received the filing. Federal officials said they had attempted to purchase the 14.2 acres before invoking eminent domain, offering approximately $183,000 for the property.
The Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces is contesting the claim. Diocese officials argue that seizing the land would violate the religious rights of pilgrims who make a five-mile hike to the statue, often barefoot, as an act of devotion.
Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pontiff, had previously stated that the U.S. immigration strategy contradicted the teachings of Jesus. Polls conducted in early 2026 showed more Americans sided with the Pope than with President Trump on immigration policy.
USA Today reported that the case has drawn national attention as a test of religious property rights against federal land acquisition authority.
The Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, and Mount Cristo Rey are among several religious and historic sites that have become focal points in debates over the border wall's path.
Legal experts say the case could set a precedent for how courts balance eminent domain authority against First Amendment religious protections. A hearing date has not yet been set.
