Yolanda Alvarado, a long-time cattle rancher from west Texas, joined her sons and fellow landowners at a press conference on Monday in Marfa. They announced a lawsuit opposing a proposed border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
A coalition of Texas landowners, including six individuals and the nonprofit Conserve Big Bend, filed the lawsuit in Washington D.C. against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Their legal action challenges the government’s plan to build a border wall in the Big Bend region.
Clara Bensen from No Big Bend Wall, an initiative of Conserve Big Bend, emphasized their collective effort, stating, “Hundreds of us are standing together to defend our constitutional rights and our private property.” The lawsuit argues that federal waivers issued by the DHS Secretary were inappropriate for the Big Bend region.
This 517-mile stretch, categorized as an area of “high illegal entry,” accounts for less than 1.5% of border apprehensions, according to CBP data. The court filing seeks to halt construction across the region, which includes protected areas like Big Bend National Park.
“We live every day on edge not knowing what will become of our home,” said Alvarado.
The lawsuit argues that the construction violates landowners’ rights, as there has been no transparent communication from officials. DHS and CBP have made no comment yet. Over 230 landowners are involved, backing this legal challenge.
The wall plan includes 30-foot-high steel bollard walls, barriers, roads, and surveillance technology across private, state, and federal lands. Locals believe this project threatens the landscape essential for the region’s tourism economy. Community sentiments are encapsulated in phrases like “No Al Muro,” which means “No to the wall.”
David Keller, a plaintiff, noted the disarray caused by the opposition, saying contractors faced delays and resistance. He said, “They were unprepared for the hornet’s nest they stirred up.” Previous lawsuits challenging federal waivers related to the wall have failed, but Bensen believes the current case is distinct because it focuses on the Big Bend area specifically.
Lico Miller, part of the landowner coalition, worries the wall would sever access to vital water resources from the Rio Grande. The lawsuit aims to slow the project’s progress and reinstate laws that were bypassed. “It is not inevitable that they will get it done,” Miller remarked about the administration’s efforts.
Miller emphasized the importance of unity among the landowners and clung to the hope that their rights and Texas sovereignty would ultimately be recognized and defended.
Leave a Reply