A federal judge in El Paso halted border wall construction across the Big Bend region of Texas on Friday, issuing a preliminary injunction that bars the Trump administration from building barriers or related infrastructure until it complies with applicable laws.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone ruled that the federal government “shall not build border barrier or related infrastructure, or engage in any construction or ground disturbing activities, in the Big Bend sector.” The two-page order, read from the bench, prevents reliance on waivers of environmental and other statutes that the administration had granted itself to accelerate the project.

The decision came in a lawsuit filed in April by the Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Ruidosa Church, and a local river guide and landowner. Plaintiffs argued the waivers were improper and that construction would cause irreparable harm to the environment, historic sites, and private property along the Rio Grande.

Cardone found the plaintiffs likely to succeed on at least one claim and face serious, irreparable harm without the injunction. The order applies to the entire Big Bend sector, which spans more than 500 miles and includes Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park.

The ruling represents a setback for the Trump administration’s broader border security initiative, which includes plans for hundreds of miles of steel walls, vehicle barriers, roads, and surveillance technology as part of a multibillion-dollar effort. Construction in the area had already faced pauses amid local opposition and reviews by Customs and Border Protection officials.

The injunction remains in effect while the court considers the full merits of the case. The administration has previously used authority under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act to waive certain requirements for border projects nationwide.

Local groups and environmental advocates hailed the decision as a victory that preserves the unique landscape of the region. Federal officials have maintained that barriers are necessary to address illegal crossings and related security concerns in the sector.