Ruidosa, Texas – The Trump administration is pressing ahead with a $46 billion border wall that will stretch from the Pacific to the Gulf, and a $7.5 billion segment is slated for the Big Bend region. While the federal government touts the project as essential to keeping illegal crossings at historic lows, dozens of local landowners have mobilized to protect their property.
Federal officials stress security gains
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) notes that illegal crossings have “plummeted” since President Trump took office, and the agency is constructing an average of about 12 miles (20 km) of barrier each week. “CBP is on track and constructing border barrier faster than ever,” the agency said in a recent statement, emphasizing that walls, vehicle barriers, surveillance technology and patrol roads are needed to maintain the low crossing numbers.
Landowners fight back
In Big Bend, a region that accounts for roughly one‑quarter of the U.S.–Mexico border, landowners such as David Keller and the Burbach family have sued to halt construction. Keller, who is suing to stop the project, said, “Landowner resistance has slowed this project to a crawl” and warned the administration was “woefully unprepared for the hornet’s nest they stirred up.” Dianna Burbach, a retired resident of an orange adobe house on the Rio Grande, told reporters, “We’re going to let them take us to court, do eminent domain. We’ll fight it that way.”
A federal judge recently issued a temporary injunction that pauses wall construction in the Big Bend area, a decision the plaintiffs hailed as “unqualified good news.” The administration has asked the judge to set aside the order while it appeals, arguing that leaving any segment of the border unprotected could create a “funnel effect” that would divert illegal immigration and smuggling to the region.
Government authority and compensation
The federal government retains sweeping authority to acquire land for public use, and courts traditionally defer to that power. A Justice Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the administration has reached agreements with dozens of Big Bend landowners and has hired eminent‑domain attorneys in anticipation of disputes. Across the southern border, about 70 such cases have been referred to the department during President Trump’s second term, with 50 already resolved without trial.
Local opposition and economic concerns
Beyond lawsuits, landowners and local business operators have organized protests, attended county meetings, and urged officials not to lease airport or road land to contractors. In Terrell County, Judge Dale Lynn Carruthers told a packed room, “We’re not in control of the border wall. We’re not,” underscoring the limited leverage counties have over a federal security plan.
Despite the resistance, the administration maintains that the wall is a critical component of a broader immigration‑enforcement package approved by Congress, and that the investment will protect American families and communities from the threats posed by illegal entry and smuggling.
What’s next?
The legal battle is expected to continue as the administration appeals the injunction and landowners prepare for further court action. Meanwhile, CBP says it will continue to seek voluntary access agreements and will compensate landowners regardless of how access is obtained.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
