{"id":7034,"date":"2026-07-01T13:53:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T13:53:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/?p=7034"},"modified":"2026-08-04T21:20:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T21:20:51","slug":"new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\/","title":{"rendered":"New Mexico Diocese Resists Land Seizure for Border Wall"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Daniel Payne, EWTN<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deacon Jim Winder, the chancellor of the Diocese of Las Cruces in New Mexico, says the diocese, which sits along the U.S.-Mexico border, is \u201cnot against border security.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been accused of that, and it\u2019s not correct,\u201d he told EWTN News. In 2021 the diocese allowed federal immigration officials to build an access road and place motion sensors on diocesan-owned land that runs alongside Mexico, an arrangement the diocese renewed in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve had that ever since,\u201d Winder said. \u201cWe think that\u2019s adequate. I don\u2019t think any people can get through there with that system.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. federal government, however, is attempting to seize that land outright from the diocese and build a much more substantial border wall<\/a> there. It is so determined to do so that it seeks to seize the land through eminent domain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Las Cruces<\/a> is fighting the government\u2019s attempt in court, putting the diocese at the forefront of the current U.S. immigration debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quite literally at the apex of the dispute is Mount Cristo Rey, a small mountain with a nearly-century-old statue of Jesus Christ atop it that has been a pilgrimage site for decades. The diocese says the government\u2019s proposed border security at the base of the mountain would negatively affect pilgrims coming to the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Trump administration\u2019s immigration policy<\/a> has come under fire from numerous elements of the U.S. Catholic Church over the past 18 months, including the U.S. bishops and multiple dioceses that have witnessed enhanced immigration enforcement. Various Church leaders have urged the administration to balance its border security efforts with more mercy and discretion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"An
An aerial view shows a cross atop Mount Cristo Rey near the U.S.-Mexico border in Sunland Park, New Mexico. The Diocese of Las Cruces called plans to seize land from the pilgrimage site for a sector of the border wall an \u201caffront to religious liberty\u201d in a June 19 opposition response filed in U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico. (OSV News\/Paul Ratje, Reuters)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Winder stressed that the diocese is supportive of immigration security. But, he said, \u201cwe see the border wall as more of a political tool \u2014 something that the administration wants to do to show that they\u2019re tough on immigration.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winder said the disputed stretch of land near El Paso, Texas<\/a>, is not ideal for illegal immigration. Mount Cristo Rey, he said, is \u201creally rough. It\u2019s not super tall but it\u2019s rough. To try to go over the mountain to get in the United States \u2014 it\u2019s a pretty effective barrier in and of itself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s nice flat ground on either side of it, for hundreds of miles,\u201d he said. \u201c[The government] patrols it. They\u2019ve got vehicles parked there. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s a real high-volume place,\u201d he observed, for illegal immigration crossings.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Statue of Christ took shape from priest\u2019s vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amid the ongoing court battle, Las Cruces Bishop Peter Baldacchino<\/a> held a Mass atop Mount Cristo Rey on June 28, drawing hundreds of faithful to the sun-baked top of the mountain with Christ towering over them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mount Cristo Rey sits near the now-vanished town of Smeltertown within what Winder called a \u201cunique\u201d tip of land in New Mexico, one that is surrounded both by the state of Texas and the nation of Mexico. Both El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, are roughly southeast of the mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An informational website says the towering statue of Christ took shape from 1933, when local priest Father Lourdes Costa \u201c[looked] out the back window of his residence in the community of Smeltertown [and] envisioned erecting a monument at the summit of this glorious mountain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 29-foot-tall limestone statue was dedicated in 1940. It has since become a regular pilgrimage site, with the faithful hiking up the short summit to the base of the monument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winder said the decision to hold the Mass on June 28 was \u201ccompletely apolitical.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t meant as a protest,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was a Mass<\/a>. It was meant for prayer, to bring people together, to practice unity, to pray for the Church, and to pray for government leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The response to the Mass was \u201cvery good,\u201d the deacon said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was very hot. It\u2019s not a great time to climb mountains in southern New Mexico. But about 400 people showed up and made the climb. They came from all over. Some from El Paso, some from our diocese, some from Albuquerque and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The battle to preserve a sacred site<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The mountain has served as a significant site for local Catholic worship for nearly a century, Winder said. He compared the geography of the area to the \u201cFour Corners\u201d monument where Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico all meet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a place where there\u2019s this unity of two nations and two states<\/a>,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s a symbolism of that unity in Christ the King standing above it. But it\u2019s also a pilgrimage site.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just a special place,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s very powerful. It\u2019s a magnificent place to have Mass.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The diocese was dealt a blow in June when a federal district court said the government could put down a six-figure deposit on the land as a pretext to obtaining it. The dispute is still ongoing, Winder said, with another hearing anticipated in late July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The diocese<\/a> has filed numerous motions against the government\u2019s effort, he said. He described the proposed border wall as more of a political symbol than a really practical measure, one that would mar the sacredness of the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you go to the mountain and hike to the top, you\u2019ll see a 30-foot-tall image of Christ the King,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd if the government builds this wall, and you turn your head slightly [from Christ], you\u2019ll see a 30-foot \u2018Keep Out\u2019 sign below.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an affront,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Featured image: Pilgrims hike to the top of Mount Cristo Rey for Mass in the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico, on June 28, 2026. The mountain has become the site of a dispute between the diocese and the federal government over the seizure of land for a border wall. (Courtesy of Jim Winder)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Diocese of Las Cruces says the U.S. federal government expropriation would desecrate Monte Cristo Rey, a regional pilgrimage site.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":162,"featured_media":7036,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","_eb_data_table":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1053],"tags":[3059,1466,2955,3057,90,3055,373,3054,3060,3056,3058,1083],"class_list":["post-7034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-bishop-peter-baldacchino","tag-christ-the-king","tag-daniel-payne","tag-deacon-jim-winder-chancellor-of-the-diocese-of-las-cruces-new-mexico","tag-el-paso-texas","tag-illegal-immigration-crossings","tag-immigration","tag-mass-atop-mount-cristo-rey","tag-mount-cristo-rey","tag-pilgrimage-site","tag-south-border","tag-trump-administration"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nNew Mexico Diocese Resists Land Seizure for Border Wall - Maryknoll Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"New Mexico Diocese Resists Land Seizure for Border Wall - Maryknoll Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Diocese of Las Cruces says the U.S. federal government expropriation would desecrate Monte Cristo Rey, a regional pilgrimage site.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Maryknoll Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-01T13:53:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-04T21:20:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/Pilgrims-Mount-Cristo-Rey-e1782930123460.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"473\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"EWTN News\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"EWTN News\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"EWTN News\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/d130d4b69e549131a5812598cbfcd7c7\"},\"headline\":\"New Mexico Diocese Resists Land Seizure for Border Wall\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-01T13:53:13+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T21:20:51+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1058,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/Pilgrims-Mount-Cristo-Rey-e1782930123460.png\",\"keywords\":[\"Bishop Peter Baldacchino\",\"Christ the King\",\"Daniel Payne\",\"Deacon Jim Winder chancellor of the Diocese of Las Cruces New Mexico\",\"El Paso Texas\",\"illegal immigration crossings\",\"immigration\",\"Mass atop Mount Cristo Rey\",\"Mount Cristo Rey\",\"pilgrimage site\",\"South Border\",\"Trump Administration\"],\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\\\/\",\"name\":\"New Mexico Diocese Resists Land Seizure for Border Wall - Maryknoll Magazine\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/Pilgrims-Mount-Cristo-Rey-e1782930123460.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-01T13:53:13+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-04T21:20:51+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/Pilgrims-Mount-Cristo-Rey-e1782930123460.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/Pilgrims-Mount-Cristo-Rey-e1782930123460.png\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":473,\"caption\":\"Pilgrims hike to the top of Mount Cristo Rey for Mass in the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico, on June 28, 2026. The mountain has become the site of a dispute between the diocese and the federal government over the seizure of land for a border wall. (Courtesy of Jim Winder)\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"New Mexico Diocese Resists Land Seizure for Border Wall\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/\",\"name\":\"Maryknoll Magazine\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Maryknoll Magazine\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/cropped-MKFB_Logo_Transparet1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/cropped-MKFB_Logo_Transparet1.png\",\"width\":333,\"height\":68,\"caption\":\"Maryknoll Magazine\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/d130d4b69e549131a5812598cbfcd7c7\",\"name\":\"EWTN News\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/ewtnnews_avatar-88x78.png\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/ewtnnews_avatar-88x78.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/ewtnnews_avatar-88x78.png\",\"caption\":\"EWTN News\"},\"description\":\"EWTN News is a service of Eternal Word Television Network, Inc.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\\\/magazine\\\/author\\\/ewtnnews\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"New Mexico Diocese Resists Land Seizure for Border Wall - Maryknoll Magazine","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"New Mexico Diocese Resists Land Seizure for Border Wall - Maryknoll Magazine","og_description":"The Diocese of Las Cruces says the U.S. federal government expropriation would desecrate Monte Cristo Rey, a regional pilgrimage site.","og_url":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\/","og_site_name":"Maryknoll Magazine","article_published_time":"2026-07-01T13:53:13+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-04T21:20:51+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":473,"url":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/Pilgrims-Mount-Cristo-Rey-e1782930123460.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"EWTN News","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"EWTN News","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\/"},"author":{"name":"EWTN News","@id":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/d130d4b69e549131a5812598cbfcd7c7"},"headline":"New Mexico Diocese Resists Land Seizure for Border Wall","datePublished":"2026-07-01T13:53:13+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-04T21:20:51+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\/"},"wordCount":1058,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/Pilgrims-Mount-Cristo-Rey-e1782930123460.png","keywords":["Bishop Peter Baldacchino","Christ the King","Daniel Payne","Deacon Jim Winder chancellor of the Diocese of Las Cruces New Mexico","El Paso Texas","illegal immigration crossings","immigration","Mass atop Mount Cristo Rey","Mount Cristo Rey","pilgrimage site","South Border","Trump Administration"],"articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\/","url":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\/","name":"New Mexico Diocese Resists Land Seizure for Border Wall - Maryknoll Magazine","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/Pilgrims-Mount-Cristo-Rey-e1782930123460.png","datePublished":"2026-07-01T13:53:13+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-04T21:20:51+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/Pilgrims-Mount-Cristo-Rey-e1782930123460.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/Pilgrims-Mount-Cristo-Rey-e1782930123460.png","width":1000,"height":473,"caption":"Pilgrims hike to the top of Mount Cristo Rey for Mass in the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico, on June 28, 2026. The mountain has become the site of a dispute between the diocese and the federal government over the seizure of land for a border wall. (Courtesy of Jim Winder)"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/new-mexico-diocese-resists-land-seizure-for-border-wall\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"New Mexico Diocese Resists Land Seizure for Border Wall"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/#website","url":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/","name":"Maryknoll Magazine","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/#organization","name":"Maryknoll Magazine","url":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/cropped-MKFB_Logo_Transparet1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/cropped-MKFB_Logo_Transparet1.png","width":333,"height":68,"caption":"Maryknoll Magazine"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/d130d4b69e549131a5812598cbfcd7c7","name":"EWTN News","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/ewtnnews_avatar-88x78.png","url":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/ewtnnews_avatar-88x78.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/ewtnnews_avatar-88x78.png","caption":"EWTN News"},"description":"EWTN News is a service of Eternal Word Television Network, Inc.","url":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/author\/ewtnnews\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7034","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/162"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7034"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7034\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7068,"href":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7034\/revisions\/7068"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7036"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7034"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7034"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7034"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}