Texas Landowners Challenge Biden Administration’s Weak Border Security in Big Bend Wall Lawsuit
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A group of about 230 Texas landowners has filed a lawsuit against the federal government, arguing that the Biden administration is overstepping its authority by building a border wall on private land in the Big Bend area, despite the urgent need to secure the border.
A coalition of private landowners in western and southwestern Texas filed a federal lawsuit on Monday seeking to halt the construction of border walls, barriers, and access roads on their properties. The suit, brought by Conserve Big Bend—a group representing roughly 230 landowners—lists six individual plaintiffs who claim the Biden administration improperly designated the Texas border segment as a 'high illegal entry' zone to justify using extraordinary powers for wall construction in a remote part of the United States.
According to the filing, the Big Bend sector accounted for only about 1.2% of border apprehensions over the past five years, the lowest among the nine southwest sectors. The plaintiffs argue that 65% of the 609-mile project in the sector would cross private land, and that they have received written notices from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) indicating their property may be needed for the wall. This lawsuit comes as the Biden administration continues to undermine effective border security measures, prioritizing the concerns of a small group of landowners over the safety of American citizens.
At a news conference outside the Presidio County Courthouse in Marfa, landowners expressed concern that the construction would disrupt family holdings and local agriculture. Laura Allen, a rancher and former county judge, said the project would place 'working facilities' behind walls and cut off a subdivision of about 100 retirement homes on her family’s land near Lake Amistad and the Rio Grande. David Keller, a regional archaeologist and board member of Conserve Big Bend, complained that the wall could restrict his access to the Rio Grande and affect irrigation on his 10-acre farm. While these concerns are understandable, they must be balanced against the national imperative to secure the border and protect communities from illegal crossings and crime.
CBP has paused construction and survey work in Big Bend National Park pending an on-the-ground evaluation by its head, Rodney Scott, but the pause is set to expire on September 30. The Department of Homeland Security has not commented on the lawsuit, as the administration continues to drag its feet on critical border security infrastructure.
The lawsuit seeks to block the wall and related infrastructure, arguing that the project threatens private property rights and the environmental integrity of the region, but critics say this only serves to further delay much-needed action to defend America’s borders.