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Posted on 05/13/2026 10:23:22 AM PDT by libstripper
The Trump administration has moved to seize more than 14 acres of land owned by the Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces to expand border‑wall infrastructure near Mount Cristo Rey in southern New Mexico, according to court documents reported by KVIA.
The effort puts federal border‑security construction on a collision course with religious‑freedom protections tied to one of the region’s most significant Catholic pilgrimage sites.
If approved by a judge, the action could disrupt annual pilgrimages and set a legal test for using eminent domain against religious institutions along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The civil case was filed at the request of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and seeks to acquire 14.259 acres of church‑owned land south of Mount Cristo Rey through eminent domain.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
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"Mount Cristo Rey remains the last major stretch of the El Paso metropolitan area without a continuous border fence and has long been a flashpoint for federal construction. In 2019, a privately funded wall project backed by Trump adviser Steve Bannon was built on the mountain’s eastern side, according to NCR reporting."
Based on this quote looks like it might be possible to fence only a relatively small strip to fulfill the security needs wnile still allowing the religous uses of the location.
Any comments from local FReepers?
NM ping
Yeah like the leftist a-holes at Newsweek give fig about a Catholic pilgrimage site.
well, you know how the poop feels about “migration”.
I’m a Protestant and I grew up in Southern California and on a field trip once we visited several of the missions that Father Serra planted in San diego. The most beautiful architecture I’ve ever seen. I’m so glad i got to see them.
The “religious use” includes Mexicans walking over the border.
But since the illegals are Catholic, it should be okay.
When national security is in the mix, I believe the Church should give way. I am a Roman Catholic and find the security of my country very limportant to the security of my Church.
“Yeah like the leftist a-holes at Newsweek give fig about a Catholic pilgrimage site.”
Newsweak uses Catholics as human shields to advance its leftist agenda.
“....we visited several of the missions that Father Serra planted in San Diego.”
As for New Mexico, doesn’t the Roosevelt Reservation apply to the pilgrimage site?
Performative governance.
Do something (or say you want to do something) that in reality has little to no actual effect but creates buzz and a counter reaction disproportional to it’s size.
This creates the appearance that they are actually doing something, when in reality they are doing close to nothing.
Does anyone know how big 14 acres is? If it is a square-ish parcel, we are talking 1000 ft... tops.
They are creating all of this controversy over 1000 ft of a 2000 mile border because the reaction (of Catholics, liberals, lunatics, etc...) makes it look like they are actually doing something.
Yeah like the leftist a-holes at Newsweek give fig about a Catholic pilgrimage site.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
BINGO! And precisely HOW does the security fencing impact this so-called “pilgrimage” site? Let’s have the DETAILS PLEASE!
Newsweak uses Catholics as human shields to advance its leftist agenda.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Exactly, and the fact is that strategy works both ways!
I did a little research on this pilgrimage site, and it appears the Newsweak story is completely misleading. The focus of the site is a large statue of Jesus, and it takes a two-mile hike to reach the statue, in very desolate country. Thus, “seizing “ 14 acres - a small part of the very large site - to build a border wall would not disrupt the pilgrimage at all unless someone is sneaking in from an unauthorized route from the Mexican side. And, as someone else pointed out, since when does Newsweak five a rat’s a** about the rights of Catholics?
Just so. starts with the headline
“Trump Admin fighting to seize Catholic pilgrimage site”
That’s one way to put it, I suppose. Not an accurate way to put it, but since when does that stop Newsweek. The truth is there, that the only impeded pilgrimage is that of those crossing the border illegally, but you have to look for it. You find the proposition I just stated in a photo caption, for crying out loud
The website for the pilgrimage site known as Mt. Cristo Rey describes it as open on a limited basis and for planned special events only. The hike up the mountain to the statue of Christ is said to be long and arduous. Since the site is in the US, changes to the access route ought to be possible and relatively easy to effect. Federal eminent domain law should assure that the necessary funds are provided. In sum, this is not a problem for border wall construction.
Let me guess, all the pilgrimage flows one way, northward.
The Newsweak article suggests that the Trump admin is seizing the entire pilgrimage site, whereas it is only taking a narrow strip off of a very large site. If done properly, it should have zero effect on pilgrims following the established trail.
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