Experts worry that replacing border-area vehicle barriers such as this one with solid barriers will harm animals including the Mexican gray wolf by significantly limiting their range. (Photo by Laiken Jordahl/Center for Biodiversity)
Donald Trump declared a “big victory” on Feb. 28, the day after a U.S. court affirmed his administration’s authority to waive environmental laws impeding plans for construction of barriers along the length of the U.S.-Mexican border. But the win was overshadowed when the U.S. Congress this month passed a $1.3 trillion spending bill with just $1.6 billion for border barriers—well below the $25 billion sought by Trump, who nevertheless signed the legislation to avoid a government shutdown. Meanwhile environmental groups whose challenges of the waiver authority were rejected in U.S. District Court insist they will fight on. “There is too much at stake,” says Randy Serraglio of the U.S.-based Center for Biological Diversity. “We can’t throw up our hands and cede these... [Log in to read more]
