The Trump administration wants to seize seven acres of New Mexico trust land at the border after the state denied its effort to buy the property.

NEW MEXICO – The Trump administration wants to seize seven acres of New Mexico trust land at the border after the state denied its effort to buy the property.

The New Mexico State Land Office said the White House informed the state it wants to take the land along the United States and Mexico border.

The Trump administration had previously tried to purchase the seven acres, but the State Land Office denied that request.

Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard said the move followed years of illegal trespassing on trust land in Luna and Doña Ana counties.

“Unsurprisingly, the President threw a temper tantrum when he couldn’t automatically get his way and is now going to forcibly take our state land and deny our school kids the revenue that comes from it,” said Garcia Richard.

The office said it would review legal options in the matter.

Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard’s full statement:

“I refuse to allow Donald Trump and his bullies to use state land to continue tearing children away from their families. Countless news reports have made it clear that the Trump administration’s border and immigration policies are deliberately cruel and intended to instill terror. Doing business with these thugs was simply not an option. Unsurprisingly, the President threw a temper tantrum when he couldn’t automatically get his way and is now going to forcibly take our state land and deny our school kids the revenue that comes from it. This is historic overreach by the Trump administration. It’s my duty as Land Commissioner to protect our lands from improper uses, and that is what I will always do. I do not take this brazen seizure of New Mexico’s lands lightly, and I have instructed my team to review all forms of recourse that may be available to us to fight this.”