Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched a new program on Thursday to compensate landowners for property damage on agricultural land caused by border-related crime.
The Landowner Compensation Program will provide up to $75,000 in compensation for damage to farms and ranches caused by illegal immigrants.
“Illegal aliens crossing the Texas-Mexico border at Joe Biden’s invitation leave behind a trail of destruction that harms Texas agricultural land,” Mr. Paxton said in prepared remarks.
Mr. Paxton said farmers and ranchers have been adversely impacted by President Joe Biden’s border policies and they are bearing the costs.
“This program will provide needed relief to Texans whose property is damaged by foreign aliens waved into the country by the federal government. I am glad to help the farmers and ranchers on our borderlands who bear the costs of Biden’s destructive policies,” Mr. Paxton said.
Those interviewed agreed that ranchers and farmers who have suffered damages related to illegal immigration-related crime should be compensated.
Raul Molina, who runs and owns Wolf Dragon Farm in El Paso, told The Epoch Times by phone that he believes this is a good program.
“Ken Paxton is trying to help farmers,” Mr. Molina said. “If there are damages from trespassers related to illegal immigration, I think they should be compensated.”
The South Texans’ Property Rights Association (STPRA) has reported severe damage caused by illegal immigrants on ranches and farms, and its website collects information about these incidents.
The association met several months ago with officials to discuss a reimbursement program.
“For years South Texas ranchers and property owners have complained about migrants passing through their land and leaving a wake of destruction,” the STPRA posted on Facebook.
“We believe it will help to a certain extent and appreciate the Texas Legislature and Gov. Greg Abbott[’s] efforts in trying to help landowners as much as they can on the state level,” Susan J. Kibbe, the executive director of STPRA, said in an email to The Epoch Times.
“It’s a sad state of affairs when landowners have been abandoned by their own Federal Government,” Ms. Kibbe added.
One farm owner believes the program could be beneficial to those who have suffered damage.
Shakera Raygoza, owner of Terra Preta Farm in Edinburg, told The Epoch Times by phone that her farm had not suffered any damage due to illegal immigration crime, but she emphasized that the program must have proper oversight.
“I think it could be a good program as long as someone is overseeing it,” Ms. Raygoza said. “I think there should be some oversight and they should try to use other means before using taxpayer money.”
Ms. Raygoza was referring to landowners filing insurance claims before applying for the state program. She said some farmers have insurance and may get reimbursed from their carrier.
The program does stipulate that landowners can apply for compensation if their insurance company denies their claim. In addition, the claimant should first apply to all federal, state, or local programs which could cover the damage. The Landowners Compensation Program will then take into consideration the compensation the landowner received from other programs.
Landowners must file claims within 90 days of the incident causing the damage, and the damage to the property must be documented by law enforcement to be eligible for compensation.
According to the program’s guidelines, the landowner will be the one to receive the awarded amount but someone authorized by the landowner such as a lessee, employee, or legal representative can apply for compensation.
If landowners have more than one incident of damage, an application needs to be filled out for each incident related to the border-related crime.
Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 1133 last year which allowed for the creation of the program to provide compensation to farmers and ranchers.
Sen. César Blanco (D-29) posted on social media platform X, “Very exciting news! The landowner compensation program application is now available!” He said he was proud to pass SB 1133 with other lawmakers, and that the bill is “aimed at compensating farmers and ranchers for property damage caused by smugglers and human traffickers.”
