Tiny South Texas Town Celebrates Halt in Border Wall Construction
Border Report
By Sandra Sanchez
Posted: Oct 12, 2026 / 03:38 PM CDT Updated: Oct 13, 2026 / 05:42 PM CDT
SAN YGNACIO, Texas (Border Report) — The tiny South Texas town of San Ygnacio held a town hall celebration on Saturday night in honor of the halt in border wall construction, at least for now.
Elsa Hull, a San Ygnacio resident and lead activist, addressed the crowd gathered in the town square, over 100 strong.
"We have been able to keep these contractors out of San Ygnacio for four and a half months, and we have preserved our river access here!" she exclaimed. "Right now, this is the only spot in the entire county where we can access the river."
For months, Hull dedicated her days to blocking contractors from clearing land for the border wall on what she believes is private property, not federal government lands, in her town of fewer than 500 residents in rural Zapata County.
Two San Ygnacio residents have filed lawsuits against the federal government, alleging the "illegal taking" of their borderlands, which were cleared by contractors months ago.
"The county attorney has recently met with the federal government and the Army Corps of Engineers and these contractors, and told them in no uncertain terms that this is not federal property," Hull said. "They are to keep their machines and contractors and surveyors out, and they have been staying out."
However, new 30-foot-tall steel border wall has been constructed on the riverbanks on the northwest side of the city, though access to the area is restricted.
Border Report was permitted to photograph the cleared lands closest to the San Ygnacio Bird and Butterfly Sanctuary, which remains untouched, a victory for Hull and others.
On Saturday night, 174 people signed a petition, delivered to visiting U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), requesting assistance in securing an exemption from future border wall construction.
The celebration, titled "San Ygnacio Strong," reflected the town's resilience and unity in the face of these challenges.