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In a significant development for the community, La Lomita Chapel, a historic site that serves as a landmark for the city’s identity, will not be positioned behind a border wall, as was initially feared by local leaders and church officials.
The future of La Lomita Chapel, located near the Rio Grande, came into question during the Trump administration when plans for border wall construction threatened to isolate the chapel between the wall and the river. This situation raised concerns about the preservation of the site and the impact on the community.
Recently, U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Laredo, announced updated plans indicating that the wall will now be constructed behind the chapel, closer to the river. Cuellar has been actively advocating for the protection of key sites along the border and shared this information during a visit to La Lomita Chapel and the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge.
“They’re trying to accommodate to an extent,” Cuellar remarked, highlighting concerns about potential flooding due to the wall’s proximity to the river.
In response to the initial threat posed by the border wall, Cuellar and the Rio Grande Valley congressional delegation successfully secured protections in the fiscal 2020 appropriations bill, preventing the use of federal funds for border wall construction in key areas, including La Lomita Chapel and the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge.
Despite these protections, President Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill allowed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to bypass these appropriations, raising concerns about the future of these historically significant sites.
Cuellar is working on adding a legacy rider to the appropriations language for 2027 that would prohibit DHS from using funds for border wall construction in these protected areas, but this legislation may not be voted on until late in the year, potentially too late to stop construction at the Santa Ana refuge.
Construction is expected to begin soon at the Santa Ana refuge, leading Cuellar to express concerns that DHS is racing against time to complete the wall before the new legislation can take effect.
DHS has not responded to inquiries regarding border wall construction at La Lomita or Santa Ana. However, the interactive map of border wall plans suggests that the wall may still be built in front of the chapel, despite Cuellar’s assurances.
Father Roy Snipes, a member of the Oblate priests and a staunch advocate for the chapel’s preservation, expressed relief at the prospect of the wall being situated closer to the river. “You wouldn’t even know the wall was there,” he said, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a serene environment for prayer and reflection.
Contrastingly, Stephanie Lopez, executive director of the National Butterfly Center, voiced her concerns about the impact of the wall on local residents, who may lose access to the river and how this could detrimentally affect the surrounding environment. “Knowing that those buoys are coming in on the river, plus the wall right on there, would be such a shame and so bad for our environment,” Lopez stated.
The ongoing developments surrounding La Lomita Chapel highlight the complex issues at the intersection of border security, environmental preservation, and community heritage. As discussions continue, the future of this beloved site remains a focal point for many advocates.
Reporting in the Rio Grande Valley is supported in part by the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.
