Lawsuit Over Land Access Has Some El Pasoans Concerned

By Martin Bartlett

EL PASO — The U.S. governmenthas drawn a figurative line in the sand for those who would oppose the federal government’s push for a border fence.

U.S. Attorney for Texas’ Western District Johnny Sutton, whose district includes El Paso, has filed a suit against the mayor of Eagle Pass, Texas, nearly 500 miles away. The dispute is over the land access to build a border fence, a hot-button topic for many, especially in this election year.

The Rio Grande has been the lifesource for water formany West Texas farmers for decades, but recently, it has been the line of contention for residents both near its banksand many throughout the country.

For residents in San Elizario, it is great cause for concern, since, like many in Eagle Pass, they’re worried about being forced out of their homes.

“It’s really going todisrupt a lot of things,” said Anthony Lopez. One of the biggest problems is whether or not cities and county municipalities will grant federal officials access to property along the border.

County Commissioner Miguel Teran said the additional concern is for water districtaccess. “I know the Lower Valley Water District is affected because they have to get in that area to open the floodgates on the American canal,”he said.

Officials with the water district said officials had contacted them, but as with Teran, their biggest concern is having access to floodgates and canals just feet from the international boundary.