A federal judge in El Paso granted an injunction Friday ordering the government to halt border barrier construction in the Big Bend area while a lawsuit proceeds. Judge Kathleen Cardone said the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits of at least one claim, would suffer serious and irreparable harm without an injunction, and that the balance of equities and the public interest favored their side. The order bars construction and any ground-disturbing activities until the defendants comply with all applicable laws.

The lawsuit was filed in April by the Friends of the Ruidosa Church, a landowner and the Center for Biological Diversity. Their central argument is that the Trump administration needs congressional approval for the barriers, which are part of a $46 billion border effort. Earlier this week, the administration had considered reducing the project’s scope through Big Bend National Park, a sign the pressure out there was already building. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately comment on the ruling.

For those of us in Waxahachie, this story is a long way from Ellis County but close to home in one way: it’s about who gets to decide what happens to a piece of Texas, and whether the process was followed. Big Bend drew bipartisan opposition, which is worth noting in a year when agreement is hard to find. Where do you land on this one?