“The federal government right now is trying to orchestrate a massive transfer of [land] into the hands of the U.S. government,” said Tricia Cortez, executive director of the Rio Grande International Study Center on the border in Laredo. “There is no way we can allow for the federal government to seize land and install all sorts of militarized structures in and along a living, dynamic river system.”

Customs and Border Protection did not respond to questions from Inside Climate News.