Texas land commissioner halts border wall construction on state land

Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham sent a cease-and-desist letter Friday to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and a federal contractor after discovering more than a mile of state-managed land had been illegally cleared near the Rio Grande, according to KVIA.

The Texas General Land Office accused contractor Barnard Construction of entering and altering state land in Presidio County without permission. The affected acreage extends into Hudspeth County. Buckingham said in a statement that the unauthorized activity disrupted significant grazing land, devalued the state's lease, and diminished revenue that would otherwise benefit Texas schoolchildren.

The GLO said its leases prohibit land modifications, excavations, or construction without written consent. The agency identified Trans Pecos Ice LLC as the lessee and said the company had breached its lease agreement by allowing unauthorized access. The GLO ordered Trans Pecos Ice to take immediate action and demanded that Barnard Construction, working with CBP and the lessee, develop a plan to restore the damaged land to its original condition for GLO approval.

The agency referenced a map showing affected areas that align with property records for the Moody Bennett Ranch, which spans Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, and Presidio counties. Online records indicate Trans Pecos Ice LLC owns parcels matching the GLO's map.

"The people of Texas entrusted the General Land Office with more than 13 million acres of state land, and we take that responsibility seriously," Buckingham said. "We will work with our federal partners to keep the southern border secured, but we will not compromise the integrity of Texas state property to do it."

Texas State Senator Cesar Blanco endorsed the commissioner's action Friday, saying the halt to land-clearing activities represented "an essential step toward protecting Texas' sovereignty and ensuring proper oversight."