(Headline USA) Texas ranchers near the southern border have rejected federal aid for damages resulting from illegal immigration because they do not trust the Biden administration,.
Landowners in Texas are technically eligible for a Department of Agriculture initiative that reimburses property owners for losses sustained due to the surge in border crossings, according to the Washington Examiner.
Under the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, farmers and ranchers can claim types of costs sustained, including fencing repairs, livestock fatalities, irrigation, and crop planting. But several ranchers said they don’t intend to take advantage of the program because they’re worried it will come with strings attached.
“It looks good on paper. It looks good in the media,” said rancher John Paul Schuster. “But in reality, it’s not servicing us right now.”
Another landowner, Page Day, agreed and said the problem with the program is that it doesn’t get at the cause of the damage: illegal immigration.
“I don’t have high hopes we’re going to get money or that it’s going to work because of the way they’ve worded it,” he explained. “I almost want to say it’s a political stunt by the government to say, ‘Look, we are helping the ranchers.’”
Rancher Billy Whaley said that even if the Biden administration does send applicants a financial reimbursement, it won’t be worth it because “nothing is simple with the government.”
“If I have to spend four or five hours filling out stuff and sending it in then have somebody come look at it, by the time they do that, we’ve already fixed another fence,” Whaley said.
Overall, the ranchers argued that no financial aid from the federal government will make up for the peace of mind and safety they have lost because of the influx of illegal immigrants on their property.
Just last week, Whaley said, Texas police called him to inform him they were chasing eight illegal immigrants who had wandered onto his property.
“[They] called me and said foot chase headed towards your house. So we turned off all the TV and one light wife had on in bedroom. She went to bed — I am sitting still in recliner with dog and pistol by my side,” he said.
