ZAPATA – Residents in Zapata County said they received orders from the federal government to move out of their homes.

Earlier this year, the International Boundary and Water Commission sent letters to 27 homeowners stating their houses were encroaching on a government easement.

Zapata resident Lehman Justice said he and his wife decided to invest their life savings and settle in the small town. He’s also one of the 27 who received the letter from IBWC.

Justice said all of the recipients are retired citizens. He also said one of the sheds in their community belongs to a lady that’s 92 years old.

The letter tells Justice his property is encroaching on a flowage easement. IBWC warned if Falcon Lake reaches capacity, those homes will be in the way.

But Justice said he already saw a high water mark in the area in 2010.

“It may never be that high… like it was that time with two hurricanes coming across Mexico and filling up Amistad and Falcon,” he said. “We’re confident that we would not be flooded by any future heavy rain.”

The homeowner said he was told the lease would be good for 99 years after he bought and leased his place. However, the current manager of the place said it wasn’t in writing and they don’t know anything about it.

IBWC gave the homeowners 180 days to remove their homes. Now, that deadline is closer to 60 days.

“Why after 40 years, and in my case my place has been here almost 20 years, why now are they telling us we gotta move at all?” Justice said. “We’ll very regretfully leave if it comes to that.”

Justice clarified it will take U.S. Marshals to force him off his property.

Those 180 days are up in mid-January. IBWC said they will then refer cases to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The commission and homeowners will meet in person next week. Both sides said they hope something will come out this stalemate.