President Trump is hoping to get a jump on 2018 by delivering on his long-awaited campaign promise of building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
And while the president attempts to secure $18 billion from Congress to build the border wall, Tommy Fisher, president and CEO of Fisher Sand & Gravel Co., one of the four companies selected to build a border wall prototype, has been stuck in limbo on how the government plans to address the issue of eminent domain should they need to build on private property.
Although Fisher hasn’t received any guidance from the Department of Homeland Security, he’s anticipating almost any and every hurdle.
“I believe we can construct a fairly soft footprint that stays within 60 feet of the current border that sits there today,” Fisher told the Washington Examiner. “One of our machines, if need be, and they don’t have the right of way, as long as we can fit our machines in that corridor I believe we’re somewhat comfortable.”
He continued, “There are only two things the government really need to do: they need to get us access and clearance.”
Fisher claimed that his company is really good at outreach with farmers, ranchers, and other members of the rural community.
“Over my 23 years of running the company, I’ve probably leased out myself over 100 to 200 places where I use a gentleman’s land for gravel and put it back so they can farm it,” Fisher said.
He went on to say that he’s confident that he’ll earn the trust from property owners who live along the border with the wall his firm has designed.
“When people see what type of border system we’re going to propose, I believe even the private guys will be on queue,” Fisher said. He explained further that cutting down on the border crossings, dust, and migrants dying on their property will be enough for private property owners to have a favorable view of the border wall.
Siraj Hashmi is a commentary video editor and writer for the Washington Examiner.
