If someone came onto your property without your permission or knowledge and began tearing out your landscaping, you would probably be upset. And rightfully so.
On July 20, workers entered the privately owned National Butterfly Center in South Texas and began removing trees and vegetation that had been planted to attract butterflies. The workers were preparing the land for construction of the border wall. The center had not been notified that its land would be used for the wall.
Jeffery Glassberg, founder of the center, told The Texas Observer,
There’s a procedure the government could follow with due process. But they’ve decided — like with so much else — to just ignore the law, trampling on private property rights. The complete disrespect for the legalities of this country is something that ought to concern every American regardless of how they feel about a border wall.
When the director of the center told a government official that she was considering putting up a gate to keep workers out, she was told that border agents would cut the lock off. In addition, it was announced that armed border patrol agents would protect work crews. In other words, the government is going to do what it wants and something like property rights isn’t going to stand in the way.
Supposedly, the wall will protect Americans. But if government agents can enter our property without due process, we must wonder where the real threat is coming from.