In 1951, a Texas town of 400 escaped a dam; 75 years later, a 90-year-old fights a border wall

Wall contractors in San Ygnacio, Texas (PC: Elsa Hull) Currently, there’s a battle going on in a small Texas town along the US-Mexico border. Now this particular land battle has also brought a forgotten chapter of history back to life. In 1951, residents of San Ygnacio successfully persuaded the US government to spare their community from condemnation for a federal dam project. But nearly 75 years later, the town is once again resisting a major government development; this time a proposed border wall that residents fear could damage their properties and harm the river ecosystem.At the centre of the latest struggle is Joel Ruiz, a 90-year-old landowner who has spent decades living beside the Rio Grande. He also runs a small fishing business. As per reports, Ruiz, along with other residents have managed to temporarily put a break on construction after confronting contractors, examining historical property records and pursuing legal action.However, this pause is not backed by a court order.A small town with a rich historySan Ygnacio might be a small town but it comes with a remarkable history. Founded in 1830, it is among the oldest communities in Zapata County, southern Texas. Situat...