Sacred ground or border wall? Judge rules feds can deposit money to seize land from Catholic Church

Federal Judge Says Government Can Deposit Money to Seize Diocesan Land for Border Fencing

Paul Ratje/AFP A U.S. Customs and Border Protection Helicopter is pictured patrolling the border at Mount Cristo Rey in Sunland Park, New Mexico, on July 22, 2021, with a statue of Christ just visible atop the mountain. The Diocese of Las Cruces is working to halt the federal government’s seizure of land at the base of the mountain. The Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico, had asked a district court to block the deposit of the funds while it fight…

Sacred ground or border wall? Judge rules feds can deposit money to seize land from Catholic Church

A judge ruled the feds can deposit $183K for land at Mount Cristo Rey, as the government moves to seize Catholic Church property for a border wall.

Judge says government can deposit money to acquire diocesan border land

Amid a legal dispute, the federal government will be permitted to put down a six-figure deposit as it moves to acquire a large parcel of land from the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico, in order to install fencing and other security measures along the U.S.-Mexico border.U.S. District Judge Kenneth Gonzales said in a June 15 ruling the government could deposit the $183,071, which he said would “allow for the safekeeping of funds pending resolutio…