Posted on 10/01/2006 6:18:10 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Valley leaders express disappointment following vote
HARLINGEN - "Horrible," "wrong," "crazy" and "extremely disappointing" were just a few of the words some local residents used about Congress' approval of a border fence.
The Senate on Friday authorized 700 miles of new fencing on the southern border. One of its longest spans would stretch 200 miles from Brownsville to Laredo.
The fence bill was passed by the House two weeks ago, and with the Senate's authorization Friday, the measure is now on its way to President Bush.
"It's like when East Germany built a wall between West Berlin and East Berlin," Cameron County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa said Saturday.
The fence is a triple threat affecting the environment, wildlife and border relations between Mexico and the United States, Hinojosa said.
That sentiment was shared by Juliet Garcia, president of the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College.
"The Great Wall of China - as big as it was, as long as it was, as wide as it was, as sturdy - did not work," she said. "The Berlin Wall did not work either. If that is the case here, then I think history will repeat itself. It just sends all the wrong messages to a friendly nation."
Hinojosa said he finds it "convenient" that the Senate passed the bill around election time.
"This is just Election Day politics," he said. "This is the worst way to implement public policy."
Hinojosa said the fence is about more than just politics.
"How are you going to put a fence next to the river - next to say Brownsville or Rio Grande City - without destroying any part of wildlife that has been protected by Congress?" he asked. "I can't see how they think something like that is going to work."
When the House passed the bill two weeks ago, Hinojosa said he hoped members of the Senate would "come to the realization that this is a bad idea."
The money used to build the fence should be given to border communities for better schools and highways, he said.
"I thought (Senate members) were going to say that this was ridiculous and has no place in the Senate," Hinojosa said. "I was deeply disappointed."
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, voted for the fence bill.
"He did vote for it ... But he received assurances that the federal government will not be unilaterally telling states where the fence would go and there would in fact be a partnership," Cornyn spokesman Brian Walsh said.
"His concern is that the American people have been skeptical of the federal government's ability to secure the borders and he views this as a first step toward a comprehensive immigration reform plan."
Cornyn applauded the passage of a companion homeland security bill, which includes $1.2 billion for border fencing, vehicle barriers, technology and infrastructure.
It also includes funding to hire 1,500 more Border Patrol agents and money to build detention facilities to hold 6,700 more illegal immigrants until they are deported.
The homeland security bill funds critical measures designed to strengthen America's border security, secure U.S. ports, improve natural disaster preparedness and response, and support local first responders, Cornyn said in a statement.
"Protecting our citizens and communities must be the top priority of the federal government and this legislation strengthens a number of critical homeland security efforts," Cornyn said.
"Under the Republican-led Congress, we have taken real steps to better secure our borders, strengthen security at our ports, and provide our first responders with the funding and resources they need to protect our communities
"While there is still much work to do, this legislation is yet another important step forward in meeting our homeland security obligations. I was proud to support it."
Jimmy Paz, director of the National Audubon Sabal Palms Wildlife Sanctuary south of Brownsville, doubts the barrier will ever see completion.
"They've got to come up with the money first, and as long as this war is going on in Iraq, they're not going to be able to produce the money," he said. "I don't think they're going to build a wall at Sabal Palms."
He added $1.2 billion could be better spent elsewhere.
"With the money they're spending to build a wall, they could build a bridge - relations-wise," Paz said. "They could help the economy over here."
Humberto Hernandez, Port Isabel leader for the Harlingen-based immigrant rights group Proyecto Libertad, said local residents will face a greater challenge in the event of a hurricane with the construction of the fence.
"If we have a big storm like New Orleans did, we don't have a place to drain the water," Hernandez said concerning the river. "All cities by the gulf don't agree with the fence because the gulf is a very dangerous place."
The Republican Party claim that the fence will deter illegal immigration is untrue, said Nathan Selzer, co-director of Proyecto Libertad.
People will continue to make attempts to cross the border, with or without a fence, he said.
"Frankly, Congress will have blood on their hands because of the people who will die because of this fence," Selzer said. "It's extremely disappointing that Congress has punted on the issue of immigration."
In his experience over the past 10 years working with immigrants, Selzer said he's met with families who have lost relatives who attempted to cross the border.
"Disgust was my first thought," he said of the news. "This is a massive waste of tax dollars. Money comes and goes, people don't. What a crazy, crazy notion."
As Republicans wanted to show they "did something" in their term, Selzer said Congress should have made an effort to listen to communities along the border.
"Washington should spend a lot more time listening to people who are affected by these politics," he said. "That's what democracy is, right? They failed to do that last night."
edwinag@valleystar.com 956-430-6292
CLUELESS JUDGE ALERT!
As I recall, the East built the wall to keep THEIR OWN PEOPLE INSIDE.
We are NOT building this wall to keep Americans IN.
I think it send the right message loud and clear ... "Come through legally or stay out".
The fence is designed to keep people OUT not IN! These idiots that make analogies to the Berlin wall can't seem to get that through their thick skulls.
rarely do the words "Texas", "brainless" and "treasonous" come together....
What part of illegal do these morons not understand?
You beat me to it. And as I recall, County judges are elected, so maybe this idiot can be replaced soon.
Are libbies the stupidest people on the planet or what? This has gotta be one of the most laughable phrases I've heard in a long while.
No, listening is what they FINALLY did.
Sure, keep building more schools for the illegal aliens you obviously don't want to stop letting in. The insanity has got to end somewhere and the fence is the first step.
"The fence is a triple threat affecting the environment, wildlife and border relations between Mexico and the United States, Hinojosa said"
NOOOOOOOO.... Its the Illegals who are the triple threat affecting the environment, wildlife and border relations
There is a fence in my backyard and I haven't seen it kill anyone, yet.
Valle Ping!
One small step for the USA...............now, go after the employers!!
Pity if people die cause of their own stupidity.
Then don't try to ILLEGALLY cross our boarders.
Then don't try to ILLEGALLY cross our boarders.
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