The Texan by Sarah McConnell October 8, 2019
At the end of September, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that three new contracts had been awarded for the construction of 65 miles of new border wall across Starr, Hidalgo, and Cameron counties.
What does this really mean for Texans who own property in these areas?
According to the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution, the federal government is authorized to seize privately owned property in order for it to be converted for public use by way of an enumerated power known as eminent domain.
If, however, the federal government chooses to exercise eminent domain, there are two conditions outlined by the Fifth Amendment for this power to be lawfully fulfilled:
Landowners must be justly compensated for their property, and
Seized property must be used for public benefit.
Additionally, if citizens feel that their appraisal value is too low or that the statute the government is claiming doesn’t apply, property owners are legally able to argue the eminent domain claim in question.
More:
https://thetexan.news/as-the-border-wall-is-built-eminent-domain-could-mean-more-texans-lose-their-land/
