LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Charlotte Laracy,

Rep. Cuellar’s Statement on CBP Pausing Negotiations to Obtain Land for Border Wall

Washington, D.C.—Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) released the following statement regarding the notice from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to pause negotiations for acquiring land for border wall construction:

“Today, I received notification that in compliance with President Biden’s executive order, real estate acquisition activities such as surveys and negotiations with landowners have been placed on hold in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. I am now working with the Department of Justice to ensure that any activities associated with pending court proceeding are terminated and the civil actions are ultimately dismissed.

“In efforts to fulfill the former president’s campaign promise, the Trump administration went to great lengths to seize private land from farmers and ranchers to build a wasteful, ineffective border wall. I want to thank the Biden administration for continuing to fulfill their pledge to stop wall construction on the southern border. As the Vice Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Appropriations, I will continue to fight for the rights of border residents, many of whom have passed down their land for generations.”

Read Congressman Cuellar’s letter to the Biden-Harris administration here. The letter called for the administration to rescind the national emergency declaration and reprogrammed funding; direct the Department of Justice to dismiss all condemnation suits; terminate for convenience all current and pending Army Corps of Engineer contracts; and rescind Homeland Security waiver authority relating to the construction of new border barriers.

Read President Biden’s Proclamation on the termination of emergency on the Southern border and redirection of funds diverted to border wall construction here.