PHOENIX -- The nation's top homeland official says she has the absolute right to build new walls along close to 40 miles of the border in southern Arizona, regardless of claims by environmental groups it could lead to elimination of the jaguar in the state.

In new filings in federal court, a lawyer for Kristi Noem says the 1996 Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act specifically authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to construct physical barriers and roads along the border. More to the point, Alexander Yun says that law authorizes the secretary to "waive any legal requirements to ensure expeditious construction of border barriers and roads." Copy article link

kAmp?5 *F? 3CFD96D 2D:56 4=2:>D 3J E96 pC:K@?2 r6?E6C 7@C q:@=@8:42= s:G6CD:EJ 2?5 rp%2=JDE E92E r@?8C6DD 2

See Full Page