Texans Receive First Notices of Land Condemnation for Trump’s Border Wall

[ABX]

The government offered $2,900 for 1.2 acres near the Rio Grande. If Flores chooses not to accept the offer, the land could be seized through eminent domain....

https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-border-wall-mexico-condemnation-letter/

[Rivergirl]

DT just loves eminent domain seizures.

[ABX]

So a fraction of what the land is worth, and if she doesn't agree to the terms, they'll take it anyway. Sounds like mafia tactics.

[thackney]

Los Ebanos Woman Resists Border Wall to Preserve Heritage
http://www.krgv.com/story/34349862/los-ebanos-woman-resists-border-wall-to-preserve-heritage
Jan 25, 2017

...Los Ebanos resident Aleida Flores-Garcia said the special connection she has to the small town motivates her to fight again.

“I was raised here all of my life. I love my little town. It doesn’t have too many people anymore. A lot of people have left us,” she said.

Flores-Garcia said the federal government offered to pay her $18,000 to take half of her property 11 years ago. She defied them until her case went to court.

“I was hurt that my property was going to be cut in half,” she said....

[Cripplecreek]

I think its a legit reason as long as the owners are being offered a reasonable going rate. Water access is an issue as well.

[thackney]

I think its a legit reason as long as the owners are being offered a reasonable going rate. Water access is an issue as well.

That is good in most locations.  But in this case, market value was greatly reduced by the government's unwillingness to control the border in the first place.

[Cripplecreek]

So a fraction of what the land is worth, and if she doesn't agree to the terms, they'll take it anyway. Sounds like mafia tactics.

Here in Michigan something withing 10 or 20 percent of the going rate must be offered. With the approval of the new Gordie Howe bridge property values in DelRay have skyrocketed from a couple thousand dollars on average to 30 and 40 grand

[Cripplecreek]

That is good in most locations.  But in this case, market value was greatly reduced by the government's unwillingness to control the border in the first place.

Yeah I was getting around to thinking that myself.

[truth_seeker]

I think its a legit reason as long as the owners are being offered a reasonable going rate. Water access is an issue as well.

The law is to pay fair market value. Fair market value is determined by comparable sales, according to a professional appraiser.

This process is followed everyday, all across the land, for highways, etc.

[Sanguine]

Los Ebanos Woman Resists Border Wall to Preserve Heritage
http://www.krgv.com/story/34349862/los-ebanos-woman-resists-border-wall-to-preserve-heritage
Jan 25, 2017

I've been to Los Ebanos.  Sentimental value is all there is.

BTW, not sure if it still is, but when I was there last, there was still the hand-pulled ferry.  And, no INS officers.  If you wanted to go from the Mexican side to the American side or vice versa, you just got on and paid the ferryman.

[thackney]

I've been to Los Ebanos.  Sentimental value is all there is.

BTW, not sure if it still is, but when I was there last, there was still the hand-pulled ferry.  And, no INS officers.  If you wanted to go from the Mexican side to the American side or vice versa, you just got on and paid the ferryman.

It is still there according to reports, but you will find border checkpoints.

http://www.wnyc.org/story/americans-who-live-near-border-say-trumps-wall-is-unwelcome

https://www.cbp.gov/contact/ports/rio-grande-citylos-ebanos

[ABX]

I've been to Los Ebanos.  Sentimental value is all there is.

Now, it is oil.
http://www.texas-drilling.com/starr-county/rio-grande-city

A lot of drilling and producing wells have gone up around there.  If she owns the mineral rights, her land value should be shooting up, not going down to a fraction of what she was offered 11 years ago ($18K then, $2900 now)

[thackney]

Now, it is oil.
http://www.texas-drilling.com/starr-county/rio-grande-city

A lot of drilling and producing wells have gone up around there.  If she owns the mineral rights, her land value should be shooting up, not going down to a fraction of what she was offered 11 years ago ($18K then, $2900 now)

Los Ebanos is over by La Joya and Sullivan City.  It is not where the wells show up by Rio Grande City.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Los+Ebanos,+TX+78565/@26.2628576,-98.7341329,10.75z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x8664541a796c105b:0x10698f30410cafba!8m2!3d26.2434051!4d-98.5616885

[thackney]

Now, it is oil.
http://www.texas-drilling.com/starr-county/rio-grande-city

A lot of drilling and producing wells have gone up around there.  If she owns the mineral rights, her land value should be shooting up, not going down to a fraction of what she was offered 11 years ago ($18K then, $2900 now)

There is one active oil drill rig about 80 miles away, to the north near Enchino, TX.  A gas rig a little farther away.  There is no active rigs on site in the Los Ebanos area.

https://us.gis.connect.bakerhughes.com/rigcountweb/default2.aspx
zoom in at this interactive map linked above

[ABX]

Los Ebanos is over by La Joya and Sullivan City.  It is not where the wells show up by Rio Grande City.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Los+Ebanos,+TX+78565/@26.2628576,-98.7341329,10.75z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x8664541a796c105b:0x10698f30410cafba!8m2!3d26.2434051!4d-98.5616885

You are right, I accidently tapped the county over when zooming around. Here is Hidalgo county, same situation, a lot of drilling going on.

http://www.texas-drilling.com/hidalgo-county

[Sanguine]

It is still there according to reports, but you will find border checkpoints.

http://www.wnyc.org/story/americans-who-live-near-border-say-trumps-wall-is-unwelcome

https://www.cbp.gov/contact/ports/rio-grande-citylos-ebanos

Los Ebanos is a ways from Rio Grande City.  There are agents there on occasion, but nothing like full-time.

[Elderberry]

Los Ebanos Woman Resists Border Wall to Preserve Heritage
http://www.krgv.com/story/34349862/los-ebanos-woman-resists-border-wall-to-preserve-heritage
Jan 25, 2017

...Los Ebanos resident Aleida Flores-Garcia said the special connection she has to the small town motivates her to fight again.

“I was raised here all of my life. I love my little town. It doesn’t have too many people anymore. A lot of people have left us,” she said.

Flores-Garcia said the federal government offered to pay her $18,000 to take half of her property 11 years ago. She defied them until her case went to court.

“I was hurt that my property was going to be cut in half,” she said....

It is interesting that before they offered to pay for half of her 16 acre property.

Now they are only offering to pay for the 1.2 acres that the wall will be on. And nothing for the remaining half of her property that will be cut off.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Now, it is oil.
http://www.texas-drilling.com/starr-county/rio-grande-city

A lot of drilling and producing wells have gone up around there.  If she owns the mineral rights, her land value should be shooting up, not going down to a fraction of what she was offered 11 years ago ($18K then, $2900 now)

Eminent domain will never include mineral rights, as far as I know.

Surface only is what will be seized.

[thackney]

You are right, I accidently tapped the county over when zooming around. Here is Hidalgo county, same situation, a lot of drilling going on.

http://www.texas-drilling.com/hidalgo-county

You link shows wells, not drilling.

One well 4 miles away.  A few others a few more miles away.

If you want drilling, use the interactive map I linked above:
https://us.gis.connect.bakerhughes.com/rigcountweb/default2.aspx

80 miles to the nearest drill rig.

Also Texas mineral rights are separate from the surface rights.  You can retain the mineral rights after the land is sold.

[thackney]

Los Ebanos is a ways from Rio Grande City.  There are agents there on occasion, but nothing like full-time.

Scroll down on that link page:
https://www.cbp.gov/contact/ports/rio-grande-citylos-ebanos

Los Ebanos Ferry Crossing
Phone: (956) 485-1084
Fax: (956) 485-2563
Operational Hours: 8:00 AM-4:00 PM (Central)
Seven Days A Week (7)

- - - - -

I'm sure it was not always that way in the past.

[Sanguine]

Scroll down on that link page:
https://www.cbp.gov/contact/ports/rio-grande-citylos-ebanos

Los Ebanos Ferry Crossing
Phone: (956) 485-1084
Fax: (956) 485-2563
Operational Hours: 8:00 AM-4:00 PM (Central)
Seven Days A Week (7)

- - - - -

I'm sure it was not always that way in the past.

Yep, I'm missing the point...

[truth_seeker]

Eminent domain will never include mineral rights, as far as I know.

Surface only is what will be seized.

Got sources and examples for this claim?  I admit I do not know.

[geronl]

Trump has always loved eminent domain

[thackney]

Got sources and examples for this claim?  I admit I do not know.

I don't know of a way to show it is not included.  In Texas, mineral rights are a separate property, just like a neighboring acreage would be separated from land needed to build and maintain a pipeline, wall, road etc.

They can claim what is needed in court.  If the land owner doesn't want to sell it as a whole, eminent domain can only be used for what is needed.  You cannot claim my 1,000 acre ranch because the pipeline route goes through 20 feet on a corner.

[truth_seeker]

I don't know of a way to show it is not included.  In Texas, mineral rights are a separate property, just like a neighboring acreage would be separated from land needed to build and maintain a pipeline, wall, road etc.

They can claim what is needed in court.  If the land owner doesn't want to sell it as a whole, eminent domain can only be used for what is needed.  You cannot claim my 1,000 acre ranch because the pipeline route goes through 20 feet on a corner.

So in this case a border property would be taken for the security wall on the surface, but mineral rights would not follow?

Wouldn't that suggest directional drilling to reach those minerals?