Religion & Law

Native American Band Fails In Attempt To Halt Border Barrier Construction

By Howard M. Friedman

 In Manzanita Band of the Kumeyaay Nation v. Wolf, (D DC, Oct. 16, 2020), in a suit by a Native American tribe the D.C. federal district court refused to enjoin construction on two barrier projects along the U.S.-Mexico border in California. The court said in part:

The Kumeyaay?s principal claim of injury is this: So long as construction at the Projects continues without proper consultation and mitigation measures, it will ?unavoidably damage? cultural and religious sites and artifacts, as well as the natural setting and resources ?on which the sacred nature of such sites depends.?... The Court does not doubt the significance of the region to the Kumeyaay?s religion. But they have not made a clear showing to support their contention for any of these alleged harms....

For starters, no Kumeyaay burial sites or remains have been identified within the narrow strip of federal land where construction is taking place, even after the Government surveyed and re-surveyed the land.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on October 19, 2020 (boomark / email).