LOS EBANOS – The U.S. government sent a letter to a Hidalgo County family early January requesting the purchase of their land to secure the border.

Citing the Secure Fence Act of 2006, the U.S. Department of Justice said it will take the property in order to construct a fence and make related improvements.

The Flores family said they would lose just over an acre of land in Los Ebanos.

Aurora Flores-Trigo said she received the letter, dated Jan. 12, 2017, along with court documents filed in federal court. The government is willing to pay around $3,000 for the land.

Trigo said they’re still adamant about the sale.

“We worked those fields picking cotton. And my dad and my uncle used to do a lot of agriculture there because it was 10 acres,” she said. “It’s kind of sad to see other people take your own property to get these people not to cross over.”

Trigo said she isn’t sure under what administration the letter was issued.  President Trump signed the executive order to immediately plan, design and construct a physical wall along the southern border.

“There’s no reason to have a fence. Even though the people are still crossing, they’re going to find a way to cross,” she said.

Trigo said her family will discuss the next step.

CHANNEL 5 NEWS contacted the U.S. Department of Justice for more information regarding the letter. They did not respond.

Count on us to bring you more details as they become available.