WASHINGTON — Federal officials have accelerated efforts to expand border wall construction along portions of the U.S.-Mexico border, including on privately owned land in Texas and New Mexico, prompting renewed disputes over land access and the federal government’s use of eminent domain, according to court filings, landowners and government notices.
In recent weeks, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other federal agencies have increased surveying and acquisition efforts in areas targeted for new border infrastructure, according to documents reviewed by local media and statements from affected property owners. Some landowners in West Texas said they received notices offering compensation for access to their property or warning that land could be acquired through eminent domain proceedings if agreements are not reached.
The latest actions are part of a broader push by the Trump administration to expand physical barriers and related security infrastructure along the southern border. The administration has awarded large construction contracts and has sought to expedite projects through streamlined procedures, according to government contracting records and public reports.
Landowners in the Big Bend region of Texas said federal contractors have requested permission to conduct surveys on ranches and farms that have been held by families for generations. Some residents have organized opposition campaigns and legal challenges, arguing that the projects could affect property rights, agriculture and access to the Rio Grande.
“I don’t want a wall, but if they’re going to build it, how am I supposed to fight it?” Adan Madrid, a landowner in the region, told The Texas Tribune after receiving a federal notice regarding access to his property.
Federal officials have said border barriers and related infrastructure are intended to strengthen border security and support enforcement operations. Detailed government responses to specific landowner complaints were not immediately available.
The construction effort has also generated litigation. On June 17, the Presidio Municipal Development District, represented by legal advocates, filed a lawsuit seeking to block planned border projects in parts of West Texas. The suit alleges that proposed barriers and associated infrastructure could increase flood risks in some communities.
Separately, the federal government has pursued legal action involving land near Mount Cristo Rey in New Mexico as part of efforts to obtain property needed for border-related construction, according to court filings and local reports.
As of Thursday, construction planning and land acquisition activities were continuing in several border regions. Court challenges remain pending, and details regarding the full scope and timeline of future construction projects remain unclear. Federal agencies have not publicly disclosed how many additional parcels may be subject to acquisition proceedings.
