A New Mexico diocese is engaged in a legal struggle to protect Mount Cristo Rey, a sacred site featuring a 29-foot statue of Jesus, from being adversely affected by the construction of a border wall. The Catholic Church has petitioned for a judge to prevent the federal takeover of the land, but a federal judge has ruled that the government can proceed to deposit funds to seize the property for border fencing. This ruling intensifies the ongoing debate over the balance between national security and the preservation of sacred grounds.