By: Uresti, et al. S.C.R. No. 31                 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION          WHEREAS, The construction of a wall or fence along the   U.S.-Mexico border could lead the federal government to use eminent   domain to infringe on the rights of private landowners in Texas; and          WHEREAS, Privately owned land composes 67 percent of the   U.S.-Mexico Border, and most of that property is located in the Lone   Star State; border fencing has already resulted in bisecting   private property without the consent of landowners, and due to the   winding geography along the Rio Grande, a wall or more fencing would   need to be built inland, separating even more property of Texas   landowners from the United States; and          WHEREAS, The path of the Rio Grande boasts many of the   greatest natural wonders of Texas, including Big Bend National   Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, the Amistad National Recreation   Area, and the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River; a border wall or   fence would undoubtedly detract from the splendor of these state   treasures and negatively affect tourism; and          WHEREAS, Instead of a barrier, the federal government should   continue focusing on alternative, more cost-effective measures for   enforcing federal law on the U.S.-Mexico border, including using   surveillance technology and integrating federal operations with   state and local law enforcement agencies; and          WHEREAS, Erecting a border wall or fence would constitute one   of the largest federal land grabs for a single security-related   project in our nation's history, and it is incumbent on the U.S.   government to enforce federal law on the southern border in a way   that will not violate the rights of Texas landowners, harm the state   economy, and waste taxpayer money; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas   hereby express its opposition to using eminent domain for the   construction of a wall or fence along the U.S.-Mexico border; and,   be it further          RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official   copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to   the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the   Senate of the United States Congress, and to all the members of the   Texas delegation to the Congress with the request that this   resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a   memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.