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U.S. NEWS Thursday 5 december 2019
Texas judge orders border wall fundraiser not to build

By NOMAAN MERCHANT tention of the International
Associated Press Boundary and Water Com-
HOUSTON (AP) — A local mission, an agency set up
judge in South Texas has by the U.S. and Mexico
ordered supporters of Presi- under treaty obligations
dent Donald Trump not to where both sides agree to
build their planned private cooperate on any chang-
border wall on a section of es to the riverbank that
land near the Rio Grande. could affect the other side.
State District Judge Keno The commission has asked
Vasquez on Tuesday is- We Build the Wall and Fish-
sued a temporary restrain- er Industries, its construction
ing order against We Build partner, for more informa-
the Wall, which raised $25 tion. Kolfage on Wednes-
million after promising to day re-affirmed that his
build its own private bar- organization won't begin
rier. Vasquez set a Dec. 17 construction until it gets the
hearing for We Build the commission's approval.
Wall and its founder, Brian Kolfage said We Build the
Kolfage, to appear in court Wall overcame local op-
in the South Texas city of position on its first project
Edinburg. — less than 1 mile (1.6 kilo-
We Build the Wall an- This Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, file photo and provided by the National Butterfly Center shows what meters) built near El Paso,
nounced on Facebook the center's director, Marianna Wright, says is land cleared in preparation to build a separation Texas — that included
last month that it was start- wall on the border of the United States and Mexico in in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. pushback from officials
ing construction on private Associated Press and the water commission.
land next to the Rio Grande, So far, the construction in
the river that separates the terfly Center, which is locat- The butterfly center and of investment, is integral Sunland Park, New Mexico,
U.S. and Mexico in Texas. It ed near the site and filed the advocacy group to the health of a fragile, is the only barrier the group
posted videos that showed the motion for the tempo- EarthJustice issued a state- but vibrant ecosystem and has built since its founding
a construction foreman rary restraining order. ment Wednesday calling warrants protection against in December 2018.
describing plans to install Wall opponents who say We Build the Wall's plans "il- this unlawful incursion," said "The courts will prevail in our
posts a short distance from private construction could legal." Dr. Jeffrey Glassberg, presi- favor because, obviously,
the riverbank. worsen erosion or push "The incredible biodiversity dent of the North American what we're doing is legal,"
The announcement drew floodwaters onto other found here, supported and Butterfly Association, in a he said, adding that claims
immediate criticism from people's property in a enhanced by 17 years of statement. to the contrary were "100%
the nonprofit National But- storm. labor and millions of dollars The plans also drew the at- false."q