Case: New Mexico Wildlife Federation v. U.S. Department of the Interior

1:26-cv-03377 | U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico

Filed Date: Oct. 8, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research this case.] In October 2026, three nonprofit organizations—the New Mexico Wildlife Federation (NMWF), Battalion Search and Rescue (BSAR), and the Southern Border Communities Coalition (SBCC)—filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico against federal agencies and officials. The plaintiffs challenged an April 2025 transfer of over 100,000 acres of public land from the U.S. Department of the Interior (Interior) to the U.S. Depa…

[This summary is temporary while we research this case.]

In October 2026, three nonprofit organizations—the New Mexico Wildlife Federation (NMWF), Battalion Search and Rescue (BSAR), and the Southern Border Communities Coalition (SBCC)—filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico against federal agencies and officials. The plaintiffs challenged an April 2025 transfer of over 100,000 acres of public land from the U.S. Department of the Interior (Interior) to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), which subsequently designated the area a "national defense area" for military-led immigration enforcement. They alleged that Interior lacked authority under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) to execute the transfer for non-environmental purposes and that DoD exceeded its statutory authority by creating a semi-permanent militarized zone. The complaint further asserted that DoD’s use of funds from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) violated the Army Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which restricts Army appropriations to two-year terms. Plaintiffs sought to vacate the land transfer and military designation, enjoin further enforcement actions, and recover costs and fees.

This case is ongoing.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/74938343/parties/new-mexico-wildlife-federation-v-us-department-of-the-interior/

Attorney for Plaintiff

Baker, Mark T (New Mexico)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Baker, Mark T (New Mexico)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 1:26-cv-03377	Complaint and Petition for Review of Agency Action New Mexico Wildlife Federation et al. v. U.S. Department of the Interior et al.	Oct. 8, 2026	Oct. 8, 2026 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/74938343/new-mexico-wildlife-federation-v-us-department-of-the-interior/

Last updated Oct. 24, 2026, 3:11 a.m.

Docket for: New Mexico Wildlife Federation v. U.S. Department of the Interior

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	Oct. 8, 2026	COMPLAINT and Petition for Review of Agency Action against All Defendants ( Filing Fee - Online Payment), filed by Southern Border Communities Coalition, Battalion Search and Rescue, New Mexico Wildlife Federation. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(Baker, Mark) (Entered: 10/08/2026) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on RECAP	Clearinghouse
2	Oct. 8, 2026	PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that this case has been randomly assigned to United States Magistrate Judge Jerry H. Ritter to conduct dispositive proceedings in this matter, including motions and trial. Appeal from a judgment entered by a Magistrate Judge will be to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. It is the responsibility of the case filer to serve a copy of this Notice upon all parties with the summons and complaint. Consent is strictly voluntary, and a party is free to withhold consent without adverse consequences. Should a party choose to consent, notice should be made no later than 21 days after entry of the Order setting the Rule 16 Initial Scheduling Conference. For e-filers, visit our Web site at www.nmd.uscourts.gov for more information and instructions.[THIS IS A TEXT-ONLY ENTRY. THERE ARE NO DOCUMENTS ATTACHED.] (eh) (Entered: 10/08/2026)	RECAP
	Oct. 8, 2026	United States Magistrate Judge Jerry H. Ritter and United States Magistrate Judge Kevin R. Sweazea assigned. (eh)
3	Oct. 9, 2026	REFUSAL TO CONSENT to Proceed before a U.S. Magistrate Judge (Baker, Mark)[THIS IS A TEXT-ONLY ENTRY. THERE ARE NO DOCUMENTS ATTACHED.] (Entered: 10/09/2026)	RECAP
4	Oct. 9, 2026	ASSOCIATION of Attorney Licensed Outside the District for Plaintiffs Battalion Search and Rescue, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Southern Border Communities Coalition by Mark T Baker on behalf of: Lesley R. Farby Democracy Forward Foundation P.O. Box 34553Washington, DC 20043 2024489090 Fax 2027964426 lfarby@democracyforward.org (Association Dues - Online Payment) (Baker, Mark)[THIS IS A TEXT-ONLY ENTRY. THERE ARE NO DOCUMENTS ATTACHED.] (Entered: 10/09/2026)	RECAP
5	Oct. 9, 2026	ASSOCIATION of Attorney Licensed Outside the District for Plaintiffs Battalion Search and Rescue, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Southern Border Communities Coalition by Mark T Baker on behalf of: Brian D. Netter Democracy Forward Foundation P.O. Box 34553Washington, DC 20043 2024489090 Fax 2027964426 bnetter@democracyforward.org (Association Dues - Online Payment) (Baker, Mark)[THIS IS A TEXT-ONLY ENTRY. THERE ARE NO DOCUMENTS ATTACHED.] (Entered: 10/09/2026)	RECAP
6	Oct. 9, 2026	NOTICE by Battalion Search and Rescue, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Southern Border Communities Coalition re 4 Association of Attorney Licensed Outside the District,, Certificate of Good Standing - Farby (Baker, Mark) (Entered: 10/09/2026)	RECAP
7	Oct. 9, 2026	NOTICE by Battalion Search and Rescue, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Southern Border Communities Coalition re 5 Association of Attorney Licensed Outside the District,, Certificate of Good Standing - Netter (Baker, Mark) (Entered: 10/09/2026)	RECAP
8	Oct. 9, 2026	ASSOCIATION of Attorney Licensed Outside the District for Plaintiffs Battalion Search and Rescue, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Southern Border Communities Coalition by Mark T Baker on behalf of: Gregory M. Cumming Democracy Forward Foundation P.O. Box 34553Washington, DC 20043 2024489090 Fax 2027964426 gcumming@democracyforward.org (Association Dues - Online Payment) (Baker, Mark)[THIS IS A TEXT-ONLY ENTRY. THERE ARE NO DOCUMENTS ATTACHED.] (Entered: 10/09/2026)	RECAP
9	Oct. 9, 2026	NOTICE by Battalion Search and Rescue, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Southern Border Communities Coalition re 8 Association of Attorney Licensed Outside the District,, Certificate of Good Standing - Cumming (Baker, Mark) (Entered: 10/09/2026)	RECAP
10	Oct. 10, 2026	PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that this case has been reassigned to District Judge Margaret I. Strickland as the trial judge. Under D.N.M.LR-Civ. 10.1, the first page of each document must have the case file number and initials of the assigned judges.Accordingly, further documents filed in this matter must bear the case number and the judges' initials shown in the case caption and the NEF for this document. Kindly reflect this change in your filings. Magistrate Judge Jerry H. Ritter no longer assigned to this case.[THIS IS A TEXT-ONLY ENTRY. THERE ARE NO DOCUMENTS ATTACHED.] (dr) (Entered: 10/10/2026)	RECAP
11	Oct. 14, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Gregory Martin Cumming on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Cumming, Gregory) (Entered: 10/14/2026)	RECAP
12	Oct. 15, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Jacques Chouinard on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Chouinard, Jacques) (Entered: 10/15/2026)	RECAP
	Oct. 15, 2026	Association Dues Received: $ 100 receipt number ANMDC-11715079 re: # 4 Association of Attorney Licensed Outside the District,, filed by Battalion Search and Rescue, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Southern Border Communities Coalition (Payment made via Pay.gov)(Cumming, Gregory)
	Oct. 15, 2026	Summons Issued
	Oct. 15, 2026	Association Dues Received: $ 100 receipt number ANMDC-11715105 re: # 5 Association of Attorney Licensed Outside the District,, filed by Battalion Search and Rescue, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Southern Border Communities Coalition (Payment made via Pay.gov)(Cumming, Gregory)
	Oct. 15, 2026	Association Dues Received: $ 100 receipt number ANMDC-11715119 re: # 8 Association of Attorney Licensed Outside the District,, filed by Battalion Search and Rescue, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Southern Border Communities Coalition (Payment made via Pay.gov)(Cumming, Gregory)
	Oct. 15, 2026	Filing and Administrative Fees Received: $ 405 receipt number ANMDC-11715135 re 1 Complaint, filed by Battalion Search and Rescue, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Southern Border Communities Coalition (Payment made via Pay.gov)(Cumming, Gregory)
	Oct. 15, 2026	Summons Issued as to Doug Burgum, Department of Defense, Peter B. Hegseth, Adam Telle, U.S. Department of the Army and U.S. Department of the Interior. (eh)
13	Oct. 20, 2026	NOTICE by Battalion Search and Rescue, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Southern Border Communities Coalition Proof of Service - U.S Attorney's Office, Dist. of New Mexico (Baker, Mark) (Entered: 10/20/2026)	RECAP
14	Oct. 20, 2026	AFFIDAVIT of Service for Summons and Complaint served on U.S. Attorney General on 10/19/2026, filed by Battalion Search and Rescue, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Southern Border Communities Coalition. (Cumming, Gregory) (Entered: 10/20/2026)	RECAP
15	Oct. 20, 2026	SUMMONS Returned Executed by Southern Border Communities Coalition, Battalion Search and Rescue, New Mexico Wildlife Federation. U.S. Department of the Interior served on 10/19/2026, answer due 12/18/2026. (Cumming, Gregory) (Entered: 10/20/2026)	RECAP
16	Oct. 20, 2026	SUMMONS Returned Executed by Southern Border Communities Coalition, Battalion Search and Rescue, New Mexico Wildlife Federation. Doug Burgum served on 10/19/2026, answer due 12/18/2026. (Cumming, Gregory) (Entered: 10/20/2026)	RECAP
17	Oct. 20, 2026	SUMMONS Returned Executed by Southern Border Communities Coalition, Battalion Search and Rescue, New Mexico Wildlife Federation. Department of Defense served on 10/19/2026, answer due 12/18/2026. (Cumming, Gregory) (Entered: 10/20/2026)	RECAP
18	Oct. 20, 2026	SUMMONS Returned Executed by Southern Border Communities Coalition, Battalion Search and Rescue, New Mexico Wildlife Federation. Peter B. Hegseth served on 10/19/2026, answer due 12/18/2026. (Cumming, Gregory) (Entered: 10/20/2026)	RECAP
19	Oct. 20, 2026	SUMMONS Returned Executed by Southern Border Communities Coalition, Battalion Search and Rescue, New Mexico Wildlife Federation. U.S. Department of the Army served on 10/17/2026, answer due 12/16/2026. (Cumming, Gregory) (Entered: 10/20/2026)	RECAP
20	Oct. 21, 2026	MOTION for Order Entering Schedule by Battalion Search and Rescue, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Southern Border Communities Coalition. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1- Email Correspondence, # 2 Exhibit 2- CBD v. Moore Answer) (Cumming, Gregory) (Entered: 10/21/2026) 1 Exhibit 1- Email Correspondence View on RECAP 2 Exhibit 2- CBD v. Moore Answer View on PACER	RECAP
21	Oct. 22, 2026	SUMMONS Returned Executed by Southern Border Communities Coalition, Battalion Search and Rescue, New Mexico Wildlife Federation. Adam Telle served on 10/20/2026, answer due 12/21/2026. (Cumming, Gregory) (Entered: 10/22/2026)	RECAP

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Case Details

State / Territory:

New Mexico

Case Type(s):

Environmental Justice

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Oct. 8, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

District of New Mexico 1:26-cv-03377

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of New Mexico Wildlife Federation v. U.S. Department of the Interior, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48522/.