Border Wall Blasts Threaten Sacred Mountain

0:00It's April 1st. You're listening to El Paso News today, AI-powered local news. Contractors just blasted the south side of Mount Cristórae in Selen Park, New Mexico to clear ground for a new section of the border wall. This rugged peak overlooks El Paso and the Rio Grande, marking where New Mexico meets Texas and Mexico. At the top sits a 29-foot Christ the King statue, a beloved landmark, drawing hikers and pilgrims. U.S. Customs and Border Protection posted videos of the explosions, calling it a facelift for tough terrain along the 2,600 mile. Barrier from California to Texas. Work kicked off in January under a $95 million contract with a Texas firm for 1.3 miles of wall here and nearby. Officials waved over two dozen environmental and historic laws in June to speed things up. Border crossings in the El Paso area dropped sharply under the first Trump term, paused under Biden, and plunged further since Trump returned.

1:00Agents have patrolled the slopes heavily before, but now they're sealing this last big gap in the 2.5 million-person metro area spanning the border. Locals on both sides feel the sting, especially with the annual Good Friday pilgrimage set for this week. Thousands climb the trail yearly to the summit for nearly a century. The Catholic diocese, which owns much of the mountain, begged to spare it, calling the site a place where faith crosses borders. Business owner Robert Artovino says shaving the mountain destroys the symbol of unity, pushing for tech over concrete. Geologists mourn lost fossil sites like dinosaur tracks and wildlife experts worry about blocking corridors for species like the Mexican Grey Wolf. Blasting continues on federal land along a 60-foot wide strip with monitors on site, though impact reports stay private. No endangered species found yet, per surveys, but critics say patrols already chased off burrowing owls and more. The trail stays open for now, but the area is now a national defense zone.

2:02Trespassers risk charges. The diocese denied access requests and vows to fight imminent domain if pushed. As pilgrims head up for Good Friday, the blast echo a clash between security pushes and this sacred slice of borderland history while rising. But, heritage holding firm for the moment.