Santa Ana’s Last Stand
Congress repeatedly shielded the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge from the border wall. Now, construction has begun—and an irrigation district lawsuit may be the only option left to buy time for lawmakers to act.
border wall
Back to the Wall
A border wall is headed for Laredo—unless opponents can run out the clock.
Trump’s Wall May Have to Avoid Multiple Historic Cemeteries
In a bid to protect a high-profile South Texas graveyard, Congress appears to have shielded other notable cemeteries too.
2020: The Year Trump’s Wall Rises or Falls
The president may be incompetent and behind schedule, but he’s done damage already. And a lot more could be on the way.
‘We Build the Wall’ Lands in South Texas, Vilifies Priest and Butterfly Refuge
Accusing a priest of supporting human trafficking and a nature center of butterfly-smuggling is one way to make friends when you’re the new kid in town.
The Trump Administration Blows Its Border Wall Budget in South Texas
A Texas Observer review of federal documents found that Congress gave CBP $445 million to build 25 miles of border wall in Hidalgo County. The money only paid for 13 miles.
Starr County Proposes Alternative Border Wall Plan
New maps obtained by the Observer represent a local plan developed as part of a Congressionally mandated consultation process.
Customs and Border Protection Wants To Know What You Think About The Wall
A new "request for input" reveals the agency already knows its proposed path lies directly in the floodplain of the Rio Grande.
Democrats Finally Play Hardball on the Border Wall
Emboldened congressional Democrats are going on offense against the wall. And that could be good news for the Rio Grande Valley.
Washington Crossing the Rio Grande
Performing patriotism in Laredo while Trump’s wall looms.