Man Set to Receive Compensation for Land Used for Border Wall
SAN BENITO – A man living on the U.S.-Mexico border will finally receive payment for the border fence in his backyard.
San Benito resident Orlando Lambert said he’s still waiting for payment for land the border fence sits on. The U.S. government owes him money for the land.
The federal government told CHANNEL 5 NEWS it’s prepared to deliver the just compensation. They said it’s important to note Lambert and his siblings own the property together.
We asked them why dozens of landowners are still waiting.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office issued the following statement in response:
“All landowners need to concur on the just compensation before the matter can be resolved and closed. If all concur, the government is prepared to file a joint motion – with all the Lambert family members having an interest in the affected properties – to request that the courts disburse the agreed-upon sum to these landowners.”
Lambert said he was not told by the U.S. Attorney’s Office what his family had to do to be compensated.
“I guess they forgot 10 years ago to tell us we needed to concur, so we can get paid,” he said.
CHANNEL 5 NEWS confirmed at least two other neighbors of Lambert are also waiting for their payment. 83 other cases along the U.S.-Mexico border are waiting for payment as well.