El Paso, Texas – Arlinda Valencia, a descendant of the 1918 Porvenir massacre victims, is leading a grassroots effort to preserve a historic marker that commemorates the tragedy. The marker, placed by the Texas State Historical Association in 2018, honors the 15 men and boys who were unlawfully executed by Texas Rangers and local ranchmen.
Historical background
On January 24 and 28, 1918, Texas Rangers, accompanied by ranchmen and soldiers from the Eighth U.S. Cavalry, entered the small village of Porvenir at night. After searching homes and arresting three men, the Rangers returned with a larger force and seized 15 unarmed men and boys. According to the Texas State Historical Association, the detainees were executed without due process. Survivors fled to Mexico, where the Mexican government conducted investigations and recorded sworn statements from both victims’ families and the Rangers. The Rangers’ own reports labeled the villagers as “thieves, spies and murderers,” despite the fact that they were land‑owning farmers who simply offered water and hospitality to travelers.
Wall construction threatens the site
The Trump administration’s ongoing border‑wall program, funded with more than $7 billion in infrastructure spending, plans to extend the barrier along U.S. Highway 90 between Marfa and Van Horn. The proposed alignment would cross the Porvenir historic area, potentially destroying the marker and any undiscovered artifacts. Valencia warned that bulldozing the site would erase a painful chapter of Texas history, likening it to “putting a bulldozer in the middle of Gettysburg.”
Local response and federal oversight
Valencia has begun a petition drive, urging residents, historians, and elected officials to halt construction until an alternative route is identified. She argues that preserving the site honors the memory of those unjustly killed and upholds the nation’s commitment to remembering its past.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott visited the construction zone and posted on social media that he had “paused all construction activity in the Big Bend National Park” while conducting a personal evaluation. Scott emphasized his dedication to securing America’s borders while also protecting historic and scenic resources for future generations.
Why the issue matters to the community
The dispute highlights a broader tension between national security priorities and local heritage preservation. For many families like Valencia’s, the Porvenir massacre is a reminder of past injustices that should never be forgotten. Protecting the site aligns with constitutional values of historical memory and the community’s right to honor its ancestors.
Supporters of the wall argue that the barrier is essential for preventing illegal immigration and drug trafficking, a stance echoed by the Trump administration’s emphasis on border security. Opponents, however, contend that the wall’s route should respect cultural landmarks and environmental concerns, especially within the protected lands of Big Bend National Park.
Next steps
Valencia and her allies plan to present their petition to local officials and to the federal agencies overseeing the wall project. They hope that the combined pressure from community members, historians, and the CBP commissioner’s recent pause will lead to a revised alignment that spares the Porvenir site.
The outcome will set a precedent for how infrastructure projects balance security needs with the preservation of America’s historical fabric.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
