Thread: Texans Receive First Notices of Land Condemnation for Trump’s Border Wall

by Melissa del Bosque
Published
Tue, Mar 14, 2017
at 4:38 pm CST

The government offered $2,900 for 1.2 acres near the Rio Grande. If Flores chooses not to accept the offer, the land could be seized through eminent domain.


Jen Reel
The ribbon left by the DHS in 2008 to note where the border wall would enter on Aleida Flores’ land still remains.

The week before Donald Trump’s inauguration, Yvette Salinas received a letter she had been dreading for years: legal notice that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wants to build a border wall on her family’s land near Los Ebanos. The 21-page document, entitled a “Declaration of Taking,” is addressed to her ailing mother, Maria Flores, who owns the property with her siblings. The letter offers Flores $2,900 for 1.2 acres near the Rio Grande. If she chooses not to accept the offer, the land could be seized through eminent domain. “It’s scary when you read it,” Salinas says. “You feel like you have to sign.”

The 16-acre property has been in the family for so long that none of them can remember the year it was acquired. Salinas only knows they’ve had it for five generations. Her uncle runs a few head of cattle on the property, which lies not far from Los Ebanos’ most famous attraction, a hand-drawn ferry that shuttles cars and their passengers across the river to Mexico.

This is not the first time the federal government has wanted to seize the land for a border wall. In the wake of the Secure Fence Act of 2006, the Bush administration put up 110 miles of border fencing, much of it on private land in Texas. In 2008, Salinas’ family received a condemnation notice offering them the same low, low price of $2,900. Others in Los Ebanos were mailed similar notices.

But nature and time were on their side. Los Ebanos is squeezed into a bend in the Rio Grande, and lies entirely in the river’s floodplain. A treaty between the United States and Mexico forbids building any structures in the floodplain that could push floodwaters into surrounding communities.

Salinas’ family held off on signing the condemnation letter. As time passed, building a wall in Los Ebanos seemed less likely, because of the treaty and because the Obama administration made wall-building less of a priority. In the meantime, Aleida Garcia, Salinas’ cousin, said the government has increased security in the area by adding more surveillance, which she prefers to Trump’s proposed 30-foot wall. “Even if they build a wall, people will still come,” said Garcia. “What’s helped us tremendously and is less expensive is the technology — the aerostat balloons, the ground sensors and even boots on the ground.”

But Los Ebanos appears to be a prime target for the Trump administration. The surveying and planning work has already been done, and the Secure Fence Act authorizes more border fencing to be built. And in 2012, the United States half of the International Boundary and Water Commission, a binational organization tasked with managing the U.S.-Mexico water treaty, capitulated to lobbying by DHS and agreed to a wall in the floodplain.

Salinas says her family doesn’t want to give up their land, and they are consulting with lawyers to decide what to do next. But fighting the federal government could mean spending years in court. If they lose, DHS could take their land without compensation. Salinas, who is 29, says it makes her sad that the family’s legacy could be divided by an ugly wall that will cause problems for Los Ebanos. “We don’t want this wall — the town is pretty much united on that,” says Salinas. “But we don’t want to get sued by the U.S. government either.”

https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-...nation-letter/

I don't have much faith in the wall, as such.

The wall will only slow down illegals, it won't stop them.

Why don't we try putting National Guard on there now, along with all manner of surveillance and see what can be done - like now.

I don't know how this will work out, but the previous plans, under Bush (which we knew weren't supposed to get done), was to come as far inland as 2 miles and in some cases actually fencing people off from their own country.

'Troops on the ground' and interior enforcement might, just might make this unnecessary. Without it, it will be useless.

Originally Posted by nntrixie

I don't have much faith in the wall, as such.

The wall will only slow down illegals, it won't stop them.

Why don't we try putting National Guard on there now, along with all manner of surveillance and see what can be done - like now.

I don't know how this will work out, but the previous plans, under Bush (which we knew weren't supposed to get done), was to come as far inland as 2 miles and in some cases actually fencing people off from their own country.

'Troops on the ground' and interior enforcement might, just might make this unnecessary. Without it, it will be useless.

A believe a quality fence to be an integral part of any top-notch security system. This Trump "wall" is supposed to be something of the likes we've never seen before. I fully support the "wall" and hope President Trump keeps his promise to build it. Remember, border security and a "big beautiful wall" paid for by the Mexican government were centerpieces of Trump's immigration platform during his presidential campaign. That was a promise that many American citizen voters took seriously and I hope it's a promise he'll keep.

It's well understood that a "wall" alone won't secure the border. However, just like border patrol agents, sensors, and other surveillance techniques, it's part of the full package.

Originally Posted by MW

A believe a quality fence to be an integral part of any top-notch security system. This Trump "wall" is supposed to be something of the likes we've never seen before. I fully support the "wall" and hope President Trump keeps his promise to build it. Remember, border security and a "big beautiful wall" paid for by the Mexican government were centerpieces of Trump's immigration platform during his presidential campaign. That was a promise that many American citizen voters took seriously and I hope it's a promise he'll keep.

It's well understood that a "wall" alone won't secure the border. However, just like border patrol agents, sensors, and other surveillance techniques, it's part of the full package.

From you lips to God's ear.

I don't mean to be a naysayer - and I hope you are right.

I'm really glad to see them moving so swiftly with the wall. This is very encouraging. Notices going out, bids pouring in, construction will be starting soon. It's unbelievable .... after all these years of waiting for solutions, to see stuff happening so fast makes this a very positive time.

I support the Wall. If it keeps out the pregnant ones and kids from scaling it...then all the better they do not step foot on our soil.

Do not come here. Do not detain...deport within 24 hours.