After nearly three years of organizing, EPISO-Border Interfaith leaders from Bauman Rd celebrated a major victory Wednesday: the City of Socorro revised its “Arterial 1” proposal, renouncing its initial plan to build a major road through the heart of their neighborhood. The move would have impacted over 100 families and displaced dozens of longtime residents—many elderly and living on fixed incomes—who had spent decades building their homes.

This win adds to a long history of EPISO-Border Interfaith organizing with congregations and other institutions to uphold human dignity and prioritize the needs of the poor and vulnerable.

Socorro, a vibrant and close-knit community, has long endured the consequences of rapid development, often at the expense of resident input and community feedback. Like thousands of border colonias built mid-century without basic services, Socorro struggled for decades without running water or sewer access—until EPISO and other Texas IAF organizations developed leaders within local institutions. They organized and won critical improvements, including running water and sewerage. 

Years later, through EPISO-Border Interfaith, the community on Bauman Road also organized to protect their homes from seizure after the developer who owned their land neglected to pay taxes.

In 2020, Bauman Road residents faced a new threat: a proposed road expansion to connect Socorro Road to I-10, which would have impacted over 100 families—some of the city’s most economically disadvantaged.

“Of the three proposed routes, the one through Bauman Road hurts the most—especially our elderly, Spanish-speaking neighbors on fixed incomes,” said EPISO-Border Interfaith leader and resident Lorena Silvestre-Tobias. 

“These families built their homes with their own hands. The city thinks we won’t fight back. They’re wrong.”

In response, EPISO-Border Interfaith organized their neighbors around Arterial 1 and pushed the city to choose a route with less impact on vulnerable families. By 2023, community pressure moved the city to restart its engagement process and expand proposed routes from three to six.

Last week, the city announced a new preferred route—one that spares Bauman Road and preserves the neighborhood.

“I don’t think people realize how much power they have,” said Silvestre-Tobias. “We elect officials, but ultimately, we have a voice. I hope this process shows more people the importance of staying involved.”

[Photo Credit: Rafael Paz Parra]

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They Didn't Like Socorro's Plan to Build a Major Road Through their Neighborhood. The City Government Appears to Have Listened, El Paso Matters [pdf]