Texas Landowners Resist Government Seizure for Border Wall Amid Ongoing Disputes

Texas landowners along the border are once again confronting government efforts to seize their properties for the construction of former President Trump's border wall. These landowners express strong opposition to the eminent domain cases initiated under the current administration, which aim to acquire small parcels of land—sometimes just a few acres—to facilitate the wall's development. Raquel Oliva, whose family has inhabited Starr County since 1798, reports that the government filed proceedings earlier this year to take over less than three acres of her family's land. This land contains vital areas used for farming, hunting, and a gas well, covering approximately 100 acres in total. Similar cases involve landowners like Alejo Clarke Jr., who has experienced the cycle of losing property during Trump's presidency, only to regain it under President Biden, and then face potential confiscation again. Legal experts note that the government has broad authority to seize land for national security purposes through eminent domain, and opposition efforts often face significant hurdles. Landowners are dissatisfied not only with the process but also with the compensation offered—sometimes ...