Texas Landowners Counter Sue Homeland Security over Border Wall

The Department of Homeland Security is suing dozens of landowners along the US-Mexico Border.  DHS is in the process of erecting a wall to stem the flow of undocumented immigrants into the United States.  Several property owners in Texas, California and Arizona have resisted, refusing to allow government survey crews onto their property.  The lawsuits look to grant government officials temporary access to the private property in order to establish the most ideal path for the wall.

Now, indigenous people in the Rio Grande Valley are striking back.  Several have counter-sued the Department of Homeland Security to stop what they call "irreparable harm to the community and the land on the Texas-Mexico border."

Peter Schey of the Center for Human Rights.

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Dr. Eloisa Tamez and her husband own land along the border – land that has been in their family since the 18th century.  The Department of Homeland Security has threatened them with confiscation if they do not allow surveyors on the property.  The Tamez's daughter, Margo Tamez, is part of the Lipan Apache Women's Community Defense.

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Communities along the Texas-Mexico border are often closely connected.  US border cities often have Mexican Sister-cities directly across the border; they share cultures, a workforce, and resources.  The proposed border wall threatens these communities.  US Customs and Border Protection hopes to build nearly 670 miles of wall by the end of the year.  According to an agency spokes person, about 100 of the 600 total landowners contacted by the government have refused to give access to their land.