An endangered butterfly, toad, and Mexican shrub may stand in the way of Trump's border wall in 2018

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December 20, 2017 5:52 PM

A February hearing will decide whether Trump's proposed wall would endanger more than a dozen rare species on the US-Mexico border.

Four environmental conservation nonprofits have filed suit against the United States Department of Homeland Security.
The groups argue that the Trump administration's planned border wall would jeopardize more than a dozen endangered species, including the Quito checkerspot butterfly and the Arroyo toad.
At a hearing in February, a judge will make a decision, which would impede the border wall's construction in San Diego and Calexico, California if the environmental groups win.

In early 2018, the Trump administration's planned border wall may face hurdles from unlikely sources: several endangered animal and plant species on the US-Mexico border.

Four environmental nonprofits —

US District Judge Gonzalo Curiel will hear the case on February 9, and decide whether the Trump administration can build its wall near the border of San Diego and Calexico.

According to the environmental groups, the border wall would disrupt endangered species' migratory patterns as well as block their access to

Jamie Rappaport Clark, president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, said in a statement.

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