Federal watchdog to probe Trump's land seizures to build border wall
Source: CBS News
BY CAMILO MONTOYA-GALVEZ
UPDATED ON: SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 / 1:37 PM / CBS NEWS
Washington — Responding to concerns raised by Democratic lawmakers, Congress' independent watchdog will launch an investigation into the administration's intensifying efforts to seize private land to build barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border and fulfill one of President Trump's signature campaign pledges.
The Government Accountability Office notified Democratic leadership in the Senate that it will review the Trump administration's attempts to take over private property near the southern border through eminent domain, a power the government has to expropriate land for public use as long as the landowners are compensated. Many landowners oppose these efforts and are taking the administration to court in a bid to keep their property.
In its notification to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, dated September 5 and obtained by CBS News, the Government Accountability Office said the matter was within its purview to investigate. The office said it would consult with the Department Homeland Security's inspector general to make sure it is not duplicating investigations.
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"Make no mistake: this administration is trying to take away Americans' private property without an ounce of oversight and has repeatedly failed to provide basic, critical information, including how many citizens will have their land seized," Schumer wrote in a statement Wednesday.
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-border-wall-government-accountability-office-to-investigate-private-land-seizures-by-administration/
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