The Mount Cristo Rey Protection Act prohibits the federal government from using eminent domain to seize Mount Cristo Rey, a mountain located in Sunland Park, New Mexico, that holds deep religious and cultural significance for Catholics and pilgrims. The bill specifically bars the federal government from spending money to litigate or pursue any eminent domain action against the mountain, which is owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces and features a 29-foot statue of Jesus Christ erected in 1939. Additionally, the legislation prevents federal funds from being used to construct border security measures such as fencing, roads, cameras, or barriers on or near the mountain. The bill was introduced in response to a federal court case filed in May 2026 seeking to take land around Mount Cristo Rey for border wall construction, which the sponsors argue infringes on religious liberty. The law would apply to the specific pending case and any future eminent domain actions related to this location.
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