Catholic Diocese Fights US Effort to Seize Land for Border Wall

A Catholic diocese in New Mexico is in court opposing the Trump administration’s effort to seize church property to construct more fencing along the southern border, accusing US officials of religious freedom violations.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces filed a brief on Friday urging a federal judge to deny the Justice Department’s request to take steps to acquire the land through what’s known as the power of eminent domain. The court action marks the latest escalation of controversy over the site, and comes amid recent tensions between President Donald Trump and members of his administration and Pope Leo XIV.