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Posted on 09/26/2007 8:46:01 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
The proposal for fence locations on the southwest border no longer includes the Laredo Sector in the Department of Homeland Security's current project, which involves constructing 370 miles of fence by Dec. 31, 2008, officials said Tuesday.On Monday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers posted maps of the proposed border fence locations in the Rio Grande Valley and San Diego sectors as part of two notices of intent to prepare environmental impact statements.
Brad Benson, Secure Border Initiative spokesman, said Tuesday the notices were rolled out as part of the final stage of constructing the 370 miles of fence required within the next 15 months. He expects the release of notices for other sectors along the U.S.-Mexico border soon, but, as of now, additional fencing in Laredo is not part of the plan.
"Back in March there was proposed fencing for Laredo," Benson said. "But my understanding now is that the latest proposal is focusing on Carrizo cane (eradication).
"Now, that can still change," he added. "All this stuff kind of changes, but the last I heard on Laredo was there would be very little fence in Laredo."
By ridding the Rio Grande of Carrizo cane, Border Patrol agents will have a better line of sight when patrolling on the riverbanks.
Currently, 1.6 miles of fencing exists in Laredo along the backside of the Laredo Community College campus. And Benson said for now the plan is to complete the remaining 225 miles required to fulfill the goal by December 2008 without adding more fencing in Laredo.
"That mile was going to be what we would have when we're done with the 370 (miles)," Benson said about the last update on the plan.
Earlier this year, a map mailed to the Associated Press showed several miles of fencing proposed for Laredo, raising concerns among local officials and landowners who were initially given the impression that they would be consulted before any decisions were made.
For months, the City of Laredo has been in constant communication with Homeland Security, Border Patrol and U.S. representatives and senators to voice opposition to a fence here.
"I still think there's a lot of other things we can do aside from squandering away taxpayer dollars," said Mayor Raul Salinas, adding that more law-enforcement equipment and personnel, the River Vega Project and virtual fencing are all viable alternatives to a fence.
And while Salinas said it is "encouraging" to hear that Laredo may not be part of the first 370 miles constructed, he said the city cannot "drop the guard at all."
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, said the fact of the matter is, it's the law to build a fence, but "now they're talking about minimizing the usage of the fence."
"The original call was (a continuous fence) from Laredo down to Brownsville," Cuellar said. "Now here they're talking about certain segments. The bottom line is that the law is still there. The good thing about it is, it's not a continuous fence."
It is Cuellar's hope that discussions between Laredo and federal officials about alternative fencing have changed opinions.
"If they haven't come up with anything else then I hope that's been effective," Cuellar said. "They have not given us a map yet for Laredo.
"Right now we're trying to do everything to minimize the usage of the fence."
Andrea Zortman, a spokesman at Border Patrol's headquarters in Washington, D.C., said tests are being completed for Carrizo cane eradication in Laredo, which is the major focus of border security initiatives in this sector at the moment.
"While we have actually identified areas that fencing could enhance our security along our southwest border, we are not at that point in Laredo," Zortman said. "We are currently studying it (Carrizo cane eradication) and looking into ways that we can safely and effectively address the situation."
Project 225 Benson said by the end of this month, Secure Border Initiative expects "Project 70" to be complete so that "Project 225" can begin. Project 70 consists of 70 miles of fencing in Arizona. And before that, 75 miles of fence were built in parts of Arizona, California and New Mexico.
The Rio Grande Valley and San Diego sectors were the first notices published as part of Project 225 due to those locations requiring a more extensive environmental study, Benson said.
A less extensive environmental assessment is being completed for the Del Rio, Marfa and El Centro sectors.
About 70 miles of fencing broken up into segments is proposed for the Rio Grande Valley Sector, according to the maps released Monday. Approximately four miles are proposed in the San Diego Sector.
The comment period will consist of meetings with landowners in the areas of proposed fencing as well as local and state officials. Zortman said the purpose is to alleviate concerns and determine what type of fence can be built to appease state and local stakeholders while still enhancing Border Patrol operations.
Benson said the process is flexible. For example, he said, while constructing a fence in a segment of Arizona a vehicular fence was initially built, which would not stop pedestrians from illegally crossing. It was later determined that a pedestrian fence was needed, so mesh was added, Benson said.
Upon completion of that, Benson said, some were concerned about rare horned lizards in the area being able to freely move about. To correct that problem "lizard gates," or small grates at the bottom of the fence, were installed, Benson said.
Comments about the environmental assessments being completed in the Rio Grande Valley and San Diego sectors are being accepted through Oct. 15. Comments can be submitted at www.BorderFenceNEPA.com, by e-mailing RGVcomments@BorderFenceNEPA.com or by mailing them to Rio Grande Valley PF - 225 EIS, c/o e2M, 2751 Prosperity Avenue, Suite 200, Fairfax, Virginia, 22031.
(Ashley Richards may be reached at 728-2538 or by e-mail at ashley@lmtonline.com)
Lizard gates. Great. Now we have to worry about Mexican lizards crossing our border. How will they make it through those small gates with those big sombreros?
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The drug cartels in Nuevo Laredo across the river have successfully bought the politicians on the Texas side for years. They do not want shipments of illegal drugs and people to be slowed down by a fence. It’s disgusting that the US government should cave to Mexican thugs on both sides of the border, but certainly not surprising.
Los dos Laredos ping!
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LOL
Yet another reason to insist on TERM LIMTS at all levels! Don't let 'em stay long enough to get bought.
“Right now we’re trying to do everything to minimize the usage of the fence.”
If we didn’t have a deliberately negligent federal government, someone would inform these Laredo citizens that it’s the US border with Mexico, and not the Laredo border with Mexico. What crosses at Laredo doesn’t stay in Laredo, and it impacts the entire USA.
Sure. Because if you cross the border, you risk the horrible fate of finding yourself in Laredo. ;)
As I walked out in
the streets of Laredo
as I walked out in
Laredo one d[BANG][BANG][BANG]
It doesn’t matter. Term Limits in Laredo would do no good.
You might as well already consider Laredo as in Mexico because that is the way everything operates down there.
Term Limits would only have them replacing the officials with other friends and family members faster than they do now. And, If anyone dares to try to change things, they are killed.
I have heard too many times throughout various businesses & people I have known the statement “This is just the way things work around here if you want to do business”.
ping
“Mexican lizards”
Excuse me! The Horny Toad lizard is the state of Texas official lizard. They oan come and go as they please. LOL!
People in the rest of the country don't understand that...they say things that assume rules are actually followed once made, cops aren't criminals, and the society actually functions, none of which is true either in Mexico or its colonial footholds within the U.S.
Congressman Henry Cuellar pulled something off. Remember that although Cuellar is Dem, he was Gov. Bush’s Secretary of State. Cuellar is from Laredo.
Build the fence - if the lizards don’t have their documents, they are illegal and should be deported anyway......
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