Officials from the town of Sunland Park, New Mexico have ordered the owners of the land where a section of the border wall is being to built to stop construction. The wall was being constructed by We Build The Wall Inc. on private property owned by American Eagle Brick Company using money raised on GoFundMe.
Officials issued a cease-and-desist order because they say the property owners never obtained permits to began construction. Sunland Park Mayor Javier Perea told KVIA that they never submitted a site plan or survey to the city and that the wall is taller than six feet, which violates a local ordinance.
We Build The Wall Inc. claims that the cease-and-desist order was politically motivated and told the news station they believe it is part of "a last-ditch effort to intimidate us from completing this historic project."
City officials have denied charges that their decision is politically motivated.
"There is no political motivation on the part of the city, simply our interest in having our code and ordinances complied with," Sunland Park City Manager Julia Brown told CNN. "This applicant is not being treated any differently from any other applicant in that all applicants are expected to comply with the law. We don't selectively enforce the law, do not show favoritism, or ignore our own laws."