Gracias, Mr. Escobar

Border rancher ready to give up land for wall

ROMA, Texas (FOX 26) — Ruperto Escobar's land has been in his family for more than 250 years.

"This river was not always a border," said Escobar, looking over at the Rio Grande River. "It became the border between the United States

and Mexico at around 1848."

The 600-acre ranch is around 55 miles northwest of McAllen and backs into the river.

Escobar said he has seen it used to smuggle everything from people to drugs to fryers.

"I'll be 75 next month, I've seen so many things, both ways," Escobar told FOX 26 News.

Once, Escobar said, his land was taken by criminals.

"There [were] two men that were heavily armed and they told my workers, 'You men need to leave. Go back to where you came from. We are confiscating this place tonight. We need it,'" recalled Escobar.

To survive, he let them go.

"If I call the police, those armed people there are going to know who called them and I don't want be a target tomorrow or any other time I come to this river," said Escobar.

http://www.fox26houston.com/news/border-rancher-ready-to-give-up-land-for-wall