CNN Trump admin taking quiet steps on seizing border land, report says

[underpants]

The staff notes that DHS has not answered questions about how much eminent domain it will require

(CNN) Although approval for a new border wall has yet to come, the Trump administration has taken subtle steps to be able to seize land to build one, including by restarting litigation that has laid dormant for years against landowners, according to a new report from Senate Democrats.

Roughly two-thirds of the US-Mexico border runs through private or state-owned lands, meaning the federal government would need to purchase, seize or seek permission to use land in order to build a border wall. Based on efforts a decade ago to build border fencing, that process is likely to cost the government millions and could take years of complex litigation.

"Using existing funds for preparatory activities, CBP and (US Army Corps of Engineers) will soon begin public-facing real estate research activities for (Rio Grande Valley) border wall requirements in the President's FY 2018 budget," the notice said, citing in-person research on property records at courthouses.

Asked about the notice, Carlos Diaz, a spokesman for CBP, said the research included soil-sampling activities and pointed CNN to congressional testimony from CBP leadership that spoke generally about prioritizing efforts on the Southwest border, including to "leverage expertise in federal acquisition."

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2017/11/13/politics/border-wall-eminent-domain/index.html

[Angry Dragon]

1. Seizing private lands-----giving away public lands----making everyone happy