Construction has resumed on the three-quarters of a mile private border wall in Sunland Park, New Mexico, according to KOB.
Sunland Park Mayor Javier Perea backtracked on Thursday on his claim the wall violated city law and that it was too high.
“Upon further investigation, we have determined this is under and M-2, which is industrial zoning and does allow up to 35 feet, as we understand at this moment,” Perea said of the 18-foot-high fence.
Construction is expected to be completed in the next several weeks.
The city claimed We Build the Wall did not have a building permit and denied city officials access to the site. We Build the Wall strongly denied both charges, Battleground State News said.
The wall is being built on private land owned by American Eagle Brick Company.
Perea said he and his family received death threats, KVIA said. He also confirmed work on the border barrier has resumed even though City officials “issued permits in error” prematurely for the lights and fence.
We Build the Wall founder Brian Kolfage said it has 10 more projects ready but would not provide details about locations, KFOX 14 said.
Kris Kobach, the legal counsel, said the group plans to sign an easement allowing Border Patrol agents to patrol the property without giving the land to the federal government.
The resumption of construction cancelled a planned rally, but We Build the Wall planned to hold a dedication and ribbon-cutting at the wall Thursday, the group’s spokeswoman Jennifer Lawrence tweeted.
🚨 #WEBUILDTHEWALL MEDIA ALERT 🚨
There will STILL be a ribbon cutting & dedication ceremony with board members from WBTW @4pm TODAY at the site. There will be media availabilities members of wbtw at 4pm @BrianKolfage
The official rally is cancelled due to active construction.
— Jennifer Lynn Lawrence (@JenLawrence21) May 30, 2019
Democratic New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has been critical of the wall. She said the wall did nothing to enhance border security or handle the humanitarian crisis on the border, Reuters said.
– – –
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.
Press Conference by KFOX 14.
