Frontera Federation Demands Immediate Release of Elsa Hull After Unlawful Arrest in San Ygnacio

Land defender and property owner arrested illegally for peacefully protesting border wall construction

SAN YGNACIO, TX – (June 6, 2026) Frontera Federation condemns the unlawful and abusive arrest of Elsa Hull, a river scientist and San Ygnacio property owner, who was taken into custody by the Zapata County Sheriff’s Office while exercising her constitutionally protected right to peacefully protest border wall construction.

Ms. Hull, a fierce grassroots defender living in Zapata County, has spent years fighting the environmental and social destruction caused by border wall expansion. As a key leader within the No Border Wall Coalition, she works tirelessly to protect historic public lands, centuries-old communities, and the native river ecosystem from irreversible damage. Her expertise in building long-term community resistance and safeguarding the shared cultural heritage of the Rio Grande corridor has made her an indispensable voice in the borderlands.

“Elsa Hull is a steward of the land, a defender of history, and a woman who has dedicated her life to protecting her community,” said Amerika Garcia Grewal, Frontera Federation co-director. “Her arrest is an abuse of power and a direct assault on the First Amendment rights of every Texan who dares to speak out against the destruction of their homeland.”

The charges against Ms. Hull are a brazen fiction. She is being charged with trespassing despite having unequivocal permission to be on the private property in question. In a grotesque inversion of the law, the private construction company contracted by the Department of Homeland Security —Kiewit Corporation—did not have permission to bulldoze private property without due process on the part of the federal government to establish eminent domain. Yet it is Ms. Hull, the lawful property stakeholder and peaceful protester, who has been handcuffed while corporate contractors face no accountability for their illegal incursions.

The Federation is calling for her immediate and unconditional release and urges all supporters to contact the Zapata County Sheriff’s Office to demand justice. 

CALL TO ACTION: Contact the Zapata County Sheriff’s Office at +1 (956) 765-9960.

“My name is [your name] from [your town]. I’m calling to ask you to release Elsa Hull, who has been unlawfully arrested and detained for practicing her constitutional right to peacefully protest.”

Frontera Federation stands behind Elsa Hull and all frontline defenders facing repression. 

Further legal action is pending.

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