I’m almost always a very strong advocate of private property rights, but if Señor Ricardo Palacios is unwilling to work with Border Patrol on policing the Mexican border, then take it via eminent domain, compensate him fair market value and call it a day. This man cannot hold a nation hostage over his flippin’ ranch.
There are many drug shipments and human smuggling operations moving across ranches at the border. A 30’ wall to keep illegals off his land should be supported by this ranch owner. Instead, we see stories about the ranchers whining about President Trump wanting to build the wall. Why?
I don’t have time to read ... is this a pro-amnesty lawyer, or a pissed off American being infringed upon by an intrusive government ?
This story does not make sense to me. BP has been using sensors, cameras, other technology on the border for many years and it has not been a secret. I am wondering why this is an issue now with this rancher? More to this story.
Encinal is about 40 miles north of the border.
If they were “surveilling” the property owner, he should win. If they were protecting the border, he should just go away. The problem is that for eight of the past nine years you couldn’t trust them to be watching the right things. That lack of trust will take a long period of good behavior by government agencies to overcome.
I’M VERY familiar with that area. South of Encinal is the well-known Encinal ICE checkpoint, the last checkpoint for cars and trucks coming out of Laredo 19 miles to the south.
It is so well-known to everyone near the border, that illegals get out of cars or trucks carrying them north to make their way through the ranches on either side of the highway on foot until they are far enough north of the check point to resume their journey.
I’m not saying that Mr. Palacios may have a financial interest in letting these illegals pass through his ranch or even just a compassionate interest, but there may be a reason that ICE put those cameras on without informing him.