Diocese of Las Cruces stalls DOJ land seizure over Mount Cristo Rey; fear the barrier would disrupt a 40,000- attendee pilgrimage. Local Catholic leadership, 10-county Diocese, Latin Church.
The Department of Justice is seeking to seize roughly 14 acres in Dona Ana County from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces to build border fencing, lighting and security cameras near Mount Cristo Rey. The diocese argues the move burdens religious exercise and has filed to block the action while pursuing constitutional and religious freedom claims. The shrine attracts tens of thousands of pilgrims annually, especially on the feast day of Christ the King.