US coronavirus shutdown causes Mexican border wall effort to gain steam

In the past 12 months, the administration opened 41 cases in federal court to seize land to build a wall along the southern border of Texas. Nearly half of those cases – 16, or 39 percent - were filed in the past two months. The bulk of the new filings came in March, when the administration opened 12 cases, the most in any month under Trump, a Reuters review of federal filings found. The administration wants immediate possession, bypassing traditional procedural steps and forcing landowners to move more swiftly, records show.

Land acquisition has been the big hold up in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas (where 100 miles of barrier has been contracted, but little actually built yet).

The effort to acquire the land has been going on in increasing earnestness for quite some time (years), to settle with those willing.

Now however, push is coming to shove with those who are unwilling. Some of the unwilling are just trying to negotiate the best price, but some relatively small minority are determined to oppose the Wall at any price, for either personal or political reasons.

Regardless of the reason, the Government is clearly now stepping up the actions needed for the Wall to proceed in the Rio Grande Valley, and in short order afterward, through Laredo, Texas.

The bottom line is that the Government ultimately has the ability to take (condemn) the land needed, even the same day. The only requirement is that the Government must compensate the owner. Determining the final price can drag on in court for an undetermined time, but when the Government is determined to maintain a construction schedule, they can take the land as they need it.

One of the great Trump hate agendas was the “wall” and borders. Our side always was afraid of the worst case scenario as the left scoffed and now here we are. Part of me wants to just get CWII on because the left is steering America into hell.

yep, that’s EXACTLY how eminent domain works ... as a municipal councilman, we fairly frequently dealt with eminent domain issues for obtaining transportation right-of-ways ... i don’t recall a case where we actually had to seize the property before paying, because the owners always knew that was our ace in hole and agreements always got made, sometimes right on the brink of seizure ...

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.