The Tigua Tribe of Texas is joining a lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of the U.S.-Mexico border fence.

The tribe is based in El Paso, near the border. The fence, once it is completed, will block access to an important religious site on the Rio Grande.

Normally, the tribe's concerns could be addressed under federal laws aimed at protecting Indian religious rights. But the Department of Homeland Security last month issued a waiver to ignore a slew of environmental and historic preservation laws.

The lawsuit is expected to filed on Friday, with the plaintiffs to include the county, the city and a water district. Another lawsuit over the fence was already filed.

Get the Story:
Violation of Constitution is alleged; County joins suits opposing barrier (The El Paso Times 5/28)

Related Stories:
Editorial: Fence infringes on Tigua Tribe's rights (5/15)
Border fence blocks Tigua Tribe from sacred site (5/14)
House Resources Committee hearing on border fence (4/28)
Environmental laws waived for fence along border (4/2)
Border fence exempted from NAGPRA, other laws (11/21)
Rider waives NAGPRA, sacred site protections (10/26)