A New Mexico Catholic diocese is facing the potential seizure of some of its land by the U.S. government in order to facilitate the construction of a border wall between the United States and Mexico.
A civil action filed by the federal government in U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico on May 7 names the Diocese of Las Cruces in the eminent domain request.
The filing was made at the request of the Department of Homeland Security. It says it seeks the land "to construct, install, operate, and maintain roads, fencing, vehicle barriers, security lighting, cameras, sensors, and related structures designed to help secure the United States/Mexico border within the state of New Mexico."
The disputed land is located northwest of El Paso, Texas. Government schematics show an extensive border wall planned for the site.
The government said it would compensate the defendants in the case with just over $183,000. The treasurer of Doña Ana County was also named in the filing.
The Las Cruces Diocese did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the dispute. But in a court filing on May 8 the diocese said the land seizure would "substantially burden" the religious freedom of both the diocese and "the other faithful who seek to commune with God on diocesan property."
The disputed land parcel runs along the base of Mount Cristo Rey, the diocese said in its filing. Atop of that mountain is a 29-foot-tall statue of Christ, marking a shrine the diocese said is the "site of annual pilgrimages" that draw thousands to the mountain.
The diocese had earlier told the government that the land seizure would "constitute a significant infringement on religious freedom and the rights of worship" given the religious significance of the site.
The filing asked the court to halt the proceedings until the First Amendment dispute could be fully adjudicated.
