Catholic diocese tries to stop Trump’s border wall that ‘desecrates’ 29-foot tall Jesus statue

Key Points:

• The Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces in New Mexico is legally challenging the Trump administration's plan to use 14 acres of church land for a border wall, arguing it would desecrate the nearby 25-foot statue of Jesus on Mount Cristo Rey.
• The diocese contends that the wall, located only a quarter-mile from the statue, would deface the sacred site and restrict access, framing the wall as a symbol of exclusion contrary to Catholic values.
• The Department of Homeland Security and Justice Department maintain the land seizure is lawful, asserting the shrine's access will remain unaffected and the wall targets only illegal border crossings.
• The statue, erected in the 1930s, has been a pilgrimage site symbolizing unity and hope, leading church officials to describe the wall as an "in-your-face insult" and a "scar on Mother Earth."
• Some local supporters of the wall, including a former police officer, cite safety concerns due to migrant traffic funneling onto the mountain, separating the issue from immigration policy debates.