Director for Defense Oversight

With this series of updates, WOLA seeks to cover the most important developments at the U.S.-Mexico border. See past updates here.

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Border wall construction A win for opponents of barriers in Big Bend Elsewhere in Texas New Mexico Arizona: environmental protests Arizona: Tohono O’odham Nation

A win for opponents of barriers in Big Bend

Arizona: environmental protests

Arizona: Tohono O’odham Nation

The administration’s campaign to deport migrant children

The military and drones at the border Troop surge to Rio Grande Valley after claimed gunfire incident Other military-drones stories

Troop surge to Rio Grande Valley after claimed gunfire incident

Other military-drones stories

ICE and CBP misuse of force, body cameras Incidents Body-worn cameras “Shock gloves” Vehicle pursuits

In the federal courts

Migrant deaths and injuries at the border

Haitians after loss of Temporary Protected Status

Surveillance, cybersecurity, and civil liberties

Third-country deportation

Former Mexico INM chief acquitted for fatal 2023 Juárez detention facility fire

Migrant caravan wanes in Chiapas

Border politics ahead of midterms

Migration politics ahead of midterms

Border wall construction

A win for opponents of barriers in Big Bend

Rebecca Santana, “How Texas Landowners Are Fighting Back Against Trump's Border Wall” (Associated Press, Associated Press, October 9, 2026).

In Texas’ Big Bend region, the administration has run up against intense opposition from landowners, many of whom are unwilling to cede parts of their property for what they see as a waste of taxpayer dollars

In Texas’ Big Bend region, the administration has run up against intense opposition from landowners, many of whom are unwilling to cede parts of their property for what they see as a waste of taxpayer dollars

Sam Karas, “How a Scrappy Legal Team Paused All Big Bend Border Wall Construction” (Texas Monthly, October 9, 2026).

The fight to stop the border wall in Big Bend is not over—but a federal judge's ruling has given activists a hard-won victory

The fight to stop the border wall in Big Bend is not over—but a federal judge's ruling has given activists a hard-won victory

Martha Pskowski, “A Federal Judge Slams the Brakes on Big Bend Border Wall Construction” (Mother Jones, October 6, 2026).

The Trump administration had waived dozens of laws to fast-track the project

The Trump administration had waived dozens of laws to fast-track the project

Adam Isacson, Spreadsheets 1, Bulldozers 0 (for now) (Adam Isacson, October 4, 2026).

It’s an understatement to say we haven’t had many wins in the border and migration space lately. This one felt especially sweet

It’s an understatement to say we haven’t had many wins in the border and migration space lately. This one felt especially sweet

J. David Goodman, “Judge Blocks Border Wall Construction in Big Bend in Texas” (The New York Times, October 2, 2026).

The ruling dealt a setback to the Trump administration’s plans for hundreds of miles of barriers that have drawn local opposition

The ruling dealt a setback to the Trump administration’s plans for hundreds of miles of barriers that have drawn local opposition

Mary Cantrell, “Judge Halts Big Bend Area Border Wall Construction, Use of Federal Waivers” (Marfa Public Radio, October 2, 2026).

At a Friday hearing in El Paso, a U.S. District Judge ordered all construction on the Big Bend area border wall project to stop immediately — including in Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. The order also included the stay of federal waivers that expedited the project

At a Friday hearing in El Paso, a U.S. District Judge ordered all construction on the Big Bend area border wall project to stop immediately — including in Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. The order also included the stay of federal waivers that expedited the project

Martha Pskowski, “Texas Land Commissioner Treads Carefully as Trump Border Wall Advances on State Property” (Inside Climate News, October 15, 2026).

Dawn Buckingham has long supported President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. But now the federal government plans to build a wall on cherished state land

Dawn Buckingham has long supported President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. But now the federal government plans to build a wall on cherished state land

Sandra Sanchez, “Tiny South Texas Town Celebrates Halt in Border Wall Construction” (Border Report, October 12, 2026).

Town petition fpr exemption from further wall construction

Town petition fpr exemption from further wall construction

Joey Esposito, “Did DHS Waive New Mexico Water Laws to Access Wells for Border Wall Construction?” (Snopes, October 14, 2026).

People claimed the waiver removed the state's ownership of water wells during a lawsuit against the federal government

People claimed the waiver removed the state's ownership of water wells during a lawsuit against the federal government

Aracely Lazcano, “New Mexico Challenges Federal Water-Law Waiver for Border Wall Construction” (Border Report, October 12, 2026).

Arizona: environmental protests

Alisa Reznick, “Santa Cruz County Sheriff: Arizona-Mexico Border Protests Are a Federal Issue” (KJZZ Arizona, October 13, 2026).

His comments come after the Arizona Sheriff’s Association accused his office of refusing requests for assistance from Border Patrol

His comments come after the Arizona Sheriff’s Association accused his office of refusing requests for assistance from Border Patrol

“Arizona Sheriffs' Association Issues Open Letter on Public Safety Concerns in Santa Cruz County · Arizona Sheriffs' Association” (Arizona Sheriffs Association, October 9, 2026).

Lauren Gilger, “Much of the U.S.-Mexico Border in Az Is Closing to the Public. Adelita Grijalva Is Pushing Back” (KJZZ Arizona, October 8, 2026).

The Forest Service is closing off a long stretch of the border to protesters and the public alike, raising issues of transparency as they claim its unrelated to confrontations

The Forest Service is closing off a long stretch of the border to protesters and the public alike, raising issues of transparency as they claim its unrelated to confrontations

Mia Kortright, “Border Agents Pepper-Spray Arizona Border 'Tree Sit' Protesters, Arrest Activist Who Locked Self to Truck” (The Tucson Sentinel (Tucson Arizona), October 7, 2026).

Protesters engaged in a months-long 'tree sit' to halt border wall construction were pepper-sprayed by Border Patrol agents Wednesday, with one of the demonstrators locking herself to a gravel hauler before being detached and detained

Protesters engaged in a months-long 'tree sit' to halt border wall construction were pepper-sprayed by Border Patrol agents Wednesday, with one of the demonstrators locking herself to a gravel hauler before being detached and detained

Henry Brean, “Arizona Border Protesters Removed; 'Grandmother' Cottonwood Toppled” (The Arizona Daily Star, October 5, 2026).

A giant cottonwood along the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona was knocked down Monday, after authorities cleared out protesters trying to save the tree from destruction

A giant cottonwood along the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona was knocked down Monday, after authorities cleared out protesters trying to save the tree from destruction

Jake Spring, “They Sat Atop a ‘Grandmother' Tree for Months. Border Agents Knocked It Down.” (The Washington Post, October 5, 2026).

Activists occupied a cottonwood tree in Arizona for more than two months in a standoff with U.S. Customs and Border Protection contractors

Activists occupied a cottonwood tree in Arizona for more than two months in a standoff with U.S. Customs and Border Protection contractors

Mia Kortright, “CBP Razes Lochiel Cottonwood Tree, Arrests 10 After Three-Month 'Tree Sit'” (The Tucson Sentinel (Tucson Arizona), October 5, 2026).

Border Patrol agents arrested 10 people and cited 10 more in what protesters called a "brutal" raid as they tore down a centuries-old cottonwood tree to build the double border wall

Border Patrol agents arrested 10 people and cited 10 more in what protesters called a "brutal" raid as they tore down a centuries-old cottonwood tree to build the double border wall

Alisa Reznick, “Nps Denies Activist Group's Request to Put Water Stations Along Arizona-Mexico Border for Migrants” (KJZZ Arizona, October 5, 2026).

The National Park Service has denied an activist group’s request to place water stations along the Arizona-Mexico border — marking the first time their permit has been denied in more than two decades

The National Park Service has denied an activist group’s request to place water stations along the Arizona-Mexico border — marking the first time their permit has been denied in more than two decades

Arizona: Tohono O’odham Nation

Ryan Devereaux, “As Trump's Wall Closes in, DHS Intimidates a Border Tribe With Surveillance, Masked Agents and Drones” (ProPublica, October 10, 2026).

For decades, the Tohono O’odham Nation collaborated with DHS to stave off a border wall. Despite their cooperation, the Trump administration is barreling forward with a project that would divide their community

For decades, the Tohono O’odham Nation collaborated with DHS to stave off a border wall. Despite their cooperation, the Trump administration is barreling forward with a project that would divide their community

Mitchell Koch, “Border Patrol to Remove Thousands of Saguaros in Southern Arizona for Wall Construction, Officials Say” (Arizona’s Family, October 10, 2026).

Thousands of saguaro cacti will be reportedly removed next week for construction of the border wall near the Arizona-Mexico border

Thousands of saguaro cacti will be reportedly removed next week for construction of the border wall near the Arizona-Mexico border

The administration’s campaign to deport migrant children

Isabela Dias, Samantha Michaels, ““You Kidnapped My Son”” (Mother Jones, October 5, 2026).

ICE is now separating children from their parents and deeming them “unaccompanied”

ICE is now separating children from their parents and deeming them “unaccompanied”

Jazmine Ulloa, Madeleine Ngo, “Migrant Children Without Lawyers Face Fast-Tracked Deportations Alone” (The New York Times, October 15, 2026).

For years, the government has helped secure lawyers for minors who arrive at the southern border. But a contract dispute has forced many children to face immigration judges alone

For years, the government has helped secure lawyers for minors who arrive at the southern border. But a contract dispute has forced many children to face immigration judges alone

Celine Castronuovo, Ximena Bustillo, “DHS Offers Migrant Children $3,000 to Voluntarily Depart US” (Bloomberg Law, October 9, 2026).

The Trump administration is offering children as young as 5 years old $3,000 to voluntarily leave the US, according to attorneys and advocacy organizations

The Trump administration is offering children as young as 5 years old $3,000 to voluntarily leave the US, according to attorneys and advocacy organizations

Samantha Michaels, “Trump Administration Plans to Have Its Own Lawyers Represent Migrant Kids” (Mother Jones, October 7, 2026).

Putting government counsel on both sides "makes me feel like it's all a farce," says one immigration attorney.

Putting government counsel on both sides "makes me feel like it's all a farce," says one immigration attorney.

Gisela Salomon, “Trump Administration to Assign Government Lawyers to Migrant Kids' Cases, Worrying Advocates” (Associated Press, Associated Press, October 6, 2026).

The military and drones at the border

Troop surge to Rio Grande Valley after claimed gunfire incident

Alma E. Muñoz, Emir Olivares, “Operativos Espejo Mexico-EU, para Evitar Malos Entendidos, Informa Sheinbaum” (La Jornada (Mexico), October 7, 2026).

Sandra Sanchez, “Feds Confirm Surge in Troops, Chinooks for Border Mission” (Border Report, October 7, 2026).

Pablo Ferri, “Tensions Mount on Mexico-US Border Amid Drones and Shootouts” (El Pais (Spain), October 6, 2026).

The deployment of troops to the Texas and Tamaulipas area over a possible attack on US Coast Guard personnel coincides with increased drone use by cartels

The deployment of troops to the Texas and Tamaulipas area over a possible attack on US Coast Guard personnel coincides with increased drone use by cartels

Alonso Urrutia, Emir Olivares, “Despliega el Gobierno Federal a 500 Uniformados en la Frontera Con Texas” (La Jornada (Mexico), October 6, 2026).

La acción es cautelar, pues ningún connacional confirmó las detonaciones

La acción es cautelar, pues ningún connacional confirmó las detonaciones

“Editorial: US, Mexico Both Sending More Troops to RGV Border; We Should Know About It” (The Brownsville Herald, October 6, 2026).

Capt. Shamari Pratt, “U.S. Army Soldiers Assigned to 130th MEB Conduct Mirrored Patrol Along the Southern Border” (Operation Ardent Vanguard, DVIDS (U.S. Department of Defense), October 6, 2026).

Samantha Schmidt, “U.S. Says Coast Guard Came Under Fire Near the Border. Mexico Wants Evidence.” (The Washington Post, October 5, 2026).

Hundreds of troops have been deployed by their governments on both sides of the border between Texas and Tamaulipas state

Hundreds of troops have been deployed by their governments on both sides of the border between Texas and Tamaulipas state

Adam Gramegna, “Coast Guard Returns Fire on US-Mexico Border as Hundreds of Troops Pour Into the Rio Grande Valley” (Military.com, October 5, 2026).

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott would not confirm it was cartel related, only saying, "That is what I've heard"

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott would not confirm it was cartel related, only saying, "That is what I've heard"

“Mexico and US Send Troops to Border in Joint ‘Mirror Operation' After Gunfire Episode” (Mexico News Daily, October 5, 2026).

Alan Morales, “Tamaulipas Mantiene Vigilancia, Pero No Confirma Disparos Hacia EU” (Elefante Blanco (Mexico), October 5, 2026).

Willy Zúñiga sostuvo que las autoridades estatales carecen de datos concretos sobre la agresión a la Guardia Costera señalada por el embajador Ronald Johnson

Willy Zúñiga sostuvo que las autoridades estatales carecen de datos concretos sobre la agresión a la Guardia Costera señalada por el embajador Ronald Johnson

“Sheinbaum Afirma “No Tenemos Evidencia” de Disparos de Mexico Hacia EU” (Elefante Blanco (Mexico), October 5, 2026).

La presidenta Sheinbaum afirmó que Guardia Nacional, Sedena y Semar no detectaron la agresión; el operativo en Tamaulipas de manera preventiva

La presidenta Sheinbaum afirmó que Guardia Nacional, Sedena y Semar no detectaron la agresión; el operativo en Tamaulipas de manera preventiva

“Despliegan 500 Efectivos del Ejercito y Guardia Nacional Con el Apoyo de Dos Helicopteros de la Fuerza Aerea en la Frontera de Tamaulipas” (Secretaría de Defensa Nacional de Mexico, October 4, 2026).

“Marina Reitera su Compromiso Con la Relacion Binacional en Materia de Seguridad Fronteriza y Maritima Con........

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