Construction of private border wall continues despite order from judge to temporarily stop: report

Construction of a private section of border wall in Texas is reportedly still underway even after a judge temporarily blocked construction this week.

The Guardian reported that construction crews were working on the private border wall funded by We Build the Wall, using at least 10 heavy machinery vehicles to move soil, dig trenches and position tall metal posts, all taking place within days of District Judge Keno Vasquez issuing a temporary restraining order.

The injunction, issued Tuesday by Vasquez, cited the potential for “imminent and irreparable damage” to the National Butterfly Center, a 100-acre riverfront nature reserve adjacent to property where the private group was building the wall.

“The property and rights involved are unique and irreplaceable, so that it will be impossible to accurately measure, in monetary terms, the damages caused by the Defendants’ conduct,” Vasquez wrote in the order.

We Build the Wall raised money through online fundraisers to build a section of the wall in a show of support for President Trump and his longtime promise to build a barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border.

After the ruling was handed down Tuesday, military veteran Brian Kolfage, founder of We Build the Wall, posted a video on Twitter of a man identified as “foreman Mike” saying they have a mile and a half of land cleared for continued construction.

“We’re going to be putting this up,” the foreman in the video said, referring to the wall and asking supporters for more donations. “We have to supercharge it now. It’s time to get really moving.” 

Foreman MIKE with a huge announcement just now! WE ARE GETTING IT BUILT! Border agents said “anyone trying to stop us is probably benefiting from the cartels”. @TrumpStudents @DeplorableChoir @fleccas @FogCityMidge @DailyMail @JackPosobiec @RyanAFournier @KatTimpf pic.twitter.com/IDgCBiOjL1

— Brian Kolfage (@BrianKolfage) December 3, 2019

Kolfage on Wednesday said the construction work was still underway despite the injunction because neither he nor the group had been served with the order.

The construction workers “have told us they are not going to stop,” Sam Pena from the local sheriff’s office told The Guardian on Thursday.

The Hill has reached out to We Build the Wall for comment.