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Laredo council directs immediate negotiations with DHS, authorizes hiring experts to assess river and property impacts
Summary
The City of Laredo voted to direct the city manager to immediately begin negotiations with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security over planned border‑wall construction after residents and staff raised concerns about effects on riverfront property values, water supply and public parks. Council also authorized staff to hire legal and environmental experts to support negotiations and technical analysis.
Mayor Victor D. Trevino and the City Council voted Nov. 17 to direct the city manager to immediately commence negotiations with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security over properties within Laredo that would be directly affected by proposed border‑wall construction.
The action follows public comment from residents and presentations by city‑hired experts about potential economic and environmental impacts. Martin Castro, Watershed Science Director at the DuPont International Study Center, told the council that city records show roughly 77 riverfront parcels that intersect Homeland Security’s planned alignment, with an estimated market value of about $90 million. Castro said the proposed security enforcement zone could extend roughly 150 feet on each side of the wall and warned of lost future redevelopment and recreation potential, and of precedent in other jurisdictions where land values fell as much as 30%.
Why it matters: Council members said rapid federal planning timelines require an immediate response so the city can protect its water infrastructure, parks and economic interests. Council members and several public commenters emphasized that Laredo depends entirely on the Rio Grande for drinking water, and that proposed river buoys and in‑river structures could alter sedimentation and flows near municipal intakes.
What the council decided: In a recorded motion the council approved a directive for the city manager to begin negotiations immediately and to use the council’s previously adopted negotiation framework as the baseline for talks. Council also endorsed staff work to contact neighboring jurisdictions, gather existing federal data (including Army Corps materials), and to pursue outside experts as needed.
Experts and budget: Council members asked management to identify and vet environmental consultants with geomorphology and hydrology specialties and eminent‑domain and environmental litigation counsel. City legal staff said their office can lead much of the work but lacks daily expertise in specialized environmental modeling; council instructed staff to return with proposed scopes and estimated costs so any supplemental appropriations can be considered.
Claims and responses at the meeting: Several speakers argued a community poll would be a poor use of funds and urged direct spending on legal and scientific expertise; others said limited, targeted border infrastructure could enhance safety. Jose Salazar, a Webb County Republican leader, told the council he supports limited wall placement. The city attorney said federal waivers do not necessarily eliminate all legal or negotiation leverage and that independent studies can inform compensation and design alternatives.
What happens next: Management will assemble recommended consultants, develop scopes of work and budget estimates, and report back to council for authorization of contracts or supplemental funding. The council emphasized readiness to call special meetings if timely items arise.
