Posted on 11/20/2007 4:43:35 PM PST by SandRat
PALOMINAS — U.S. Rep. Raul M. Grijalva toured the ongoing border fence construction project at the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area on Monday to raise awareness for his proposed Borderlands Conservation and Security Act.
Grijalva, representing Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, and fellow Democrat Gabrielle Giffords of the 8th District are the only two of Arizona’s eight U.S. representatives whose districts abut the U.S.-Mexico border. Giffords’ district includes all of Cochise County.
Grijalva observed portions of the border fence and listened to concerns voiced by host Bill Odle, a nearby landowner who is opposed to the construction because it will negatively impact wildlife and create “a false sense of security.”
His attitude seemed to stand in stark contrast with the feelings of some Americans in the borderlands who say the fence has been needed for a long time to help stem the flow of illegal migration from Mexico.
Grijalva told reporters that after seeing the fence first hand, he felt “overwhelmed” by the seriousness of the issue.
He said he is worried about plans to put a barrier across the San Pedro River because of its consequences on wildlife and the environment.
He also questioned the fence’s long-term effectiveness. He said the fence will not be “the deterrent, the prevention or the real stoppage of illegal entrants into this country.”
People who staunchly oppose illegal immigration say the fence is simply one element of a larger strategy to stop the flow of illegal border crossings.
Grijalva, whose district has witnessed deadly clashes between rival smugglers in the past year, remarked, “This is a corridor. People will inevitably, if they have not already, find a way around, through or over this construction.”
His proposed legislation, the Borderlands Coservation and Security Act of 2007, also known as HR 2593, would require the Department of Homeland Security to consult with federal land managers and tribal officials to create a strategy that supports both border security and protects lands.
The legislation would provide for flexibility rather than a one-size-fits-all approach to border security by allowing Homeland Security experts to decide whether fences, virtual fences, border barriers or other options are the best way to address border security.
Also, the legislation would require full public notice and participation on border security decisions, as well as ensure the government complies with laws protecting air, water, wildlife, culture and health and safety. In addition, it would fund initiatives that help mitigate damage to borderland habitat and wildlife.
Representatives of Defenders of Wildlife, the Sierra Club and the Center for Biological Diversity accompanied Grijalva on the tour.
Matt Clark, southwest representative for Defenders of Wildlife, said HR 2593 would “help to alleviate a lot of the conflict that is going on here along the border.”
Congress passed the Secure Fence Act in 2006, allowing for the construction of a wall and fencing along much of the southern border.
Defenders of Wildlife and the Sierra Club filed a lawsuit and on Oct. 10 a federal district judge ordered a delay in the construction in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area because the government failed to fully study the environmental impact of the project.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff invoked his power under the REAL ID Act on Oct. 22 to waive several laws to allow for the construction to be restarted.
Grijalva said he disagrees with Chertoff’s decision because he did not study the land or consult with local land managers, and because he used the REAL ID waiver.
“Right now, people think, ‘Well, it’s a good waiver because he built a wall.’ ” Grijalva said. “Down the road, those waivers, I think, are a threat to some of the basic public process transparencies that we need in this country.”
Contacted by phone on Monday, Veronica Nur Valdes, spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, said, “We stand by the secretary’s decision.”
“After all, he did determine that any further delay in constructing tactical infrastructure and fencing in the area would present a risk to our nation’s security,” she said.
Chertoff feels the fence will be beneficial to the environment because it will stop the traffic of illegal immigrants who leave trash and human waste in areas, according to Nur Valdes.
The Department of Homeland Security is taking steps to prevent the negative impacts on the environment. It agreed to work with a qualified biologist regarding wildlife concerns. Also, temporary vehicle barriers will be erected in the river that can be removed during flood season, according to Nur Valdes.
Clark said wildlife will be able to get over and through the vehicle barrier. But, he is concerned that the fence will funnel smuggling and enforcement activity into the riparian corridor.
He is also concerned the fencing structures may cause the river bed to shift. The fence may also increase sedimentation that could affect endangered fish. The fence will also block wildlife from accessing habitats across the border, he claimed.
On Nov. 1, Defenders of Wildlife and the Sierra Club filed a new lawsuit saying Congress violated the Constitution by giving Chertoff the authority to ignore the laws under the REAL ID Act.
According to Clark, the case will be reviewed by a judge at the federal district court level.
“If she rules in favor of our position, that will fast-track this case to the Supreme Court. If she doesn’t allow the amended complaint to move forward, it still may go to the Supreme Court, but it is less likely the Supreme Court will entertain it,” he said.
He is hopeful that the government will be required to remove some of the fencing and mitigate environmental damage.
During one portion of the tour, Grijalva also made a stop along the San Pedro River. Glenn Spencer, a neighboring landowner and president of American Border Patrol, a nonprofit border-watch group, came by and announced that it was against the law for the motor vehicles to be in the sensitive riverine area.
“There are two signs posted all the way in here. ‘No vehicles.’ ‘Authorized use only,’ ” said Spencer, who had parked outside the zone and had hiked up to the group.
The congressman and environmentalists apologized for the faux pas.
“Do you know that this is where American Border Patrol smuggled simulated weapons of mass destruction, up this river?” he continued. “We took it all the way into Sierra Vista ... ”
“This is one of the greatest threats to United States security, right here — the San Pedro River.”
Republican response
The president of the Arizona Senate, State Sen. Tim Bee of District 30, was sought for his reaction to the recent Democratic Congressional tours of the border.
“I hope that it’s effective, that it’s more than a photo opportunity for them, and that they will go back and get something done,” said Bee, who is exploring a possible challenge against Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords next fall.
Bee noted that he himself has “taken lawmakers to the border numerous times.”
He criticized the Congress for its inaction on immigration, and he also said the state of Arizona continues to struggle with border issues.
Herald/Review reporter Jonathon Shacat can be reached at 515-4693 or by e-mail at jonathon.shacat@bisbeereview.net.
Glenn Spencer, left, of the American Border Patrol, has some issues with U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, right, as the 7th District Congressman visits the San Pedro River near Palominas and Spencer’s property on Monday. Tucson television newsman Bud Foster of Channel 13, center, listens. (Ed Honda-Herald/Review)
Tells who the trouble makers are and who's always filing legal suit against Fort Huachuca over water.
During one portion of the tour, Grijalva also made a stop along the San Pedro River. Glenn Spencer, a neighboring landowner and president of American Border Patrol, a nonprofit border-watch group, came by and announced that it was against the law for the motor vehicles to be in the sensitive riverine area.
“There are two signs posted all the way in here. ‘No vehicles.’ ‘Authorized use only,’ ” said Spencer, who had parked outside the zone and had hiked up to the group.
The congressman and environmentalists apologized for the faux pas.
“Do you know that this is where American Border Patrol smuggled simulated weapons of mass destruction, up this river?” he continued. “We took it all the way into Sierra Vista ... ”
“This is one of the greatest threats to United States security, right here — the San Pedro River.”
The so called Protecters of the environment show that they think they are exempt from the rules.
When it comes to the illegals and the TONS of trash they leave they don't care.
Border Ping
Their so-called "concern" for the border and U.S. security is just so much crocodile tears.
It's a discredit to all of Southern Arizona that these two are in Congress.
In other words: “Don’t actually build anything that might actually improve (or begin) actual border security. Instead, make a virtual fence so we can COUNT the number of illegals coming in - and make sure EVERY ONE OF THEM gets a voter ID card. And is registered in the census so we (the democrats) get more money and Congressional reps.
Also, the legislation would require full public notice and participation on border security decisions, as well as ensure the government complies with laws protecting air, water, wildlife, culture and health and safety. In addition, it would fund initiatives that help mitigate damage to borderland habitat and wildlife.
Again, just to drive the point home: Don’t DO anything to actually improve security, but let’s study everything (again) so the university professors and liberals can be certain to stop every real fence. And so every liberal can get more money to spend more time studying everything again.
Thanks, SandRat. Bump!
But, but, but... "Gabby Gets Married"!! (Red Star title)
LOL! Oh, yes, and the paper advertised the big green event for days and days, then placed it in the Sunday paper on two plus full pages. In the “Vamos” section, but you could hardly avoid it. All about how environmentally conscious their wedding was - edible plates or some nonsense. And lots and lots of photos of the mini-Hillary and her older man...
So how much do you think old Bill is earning by creating a “safe haven” for the coyotes?
The Sierra Club - America's premier environmental group, with 750,000 members and considerable political clout - is the target of an unfriendly takeover attempt. A combination of animal-rights and anti-immigrant activists is aiming to take control of the organization - and change its philosophy and direction - by getting their slate of candidates elected to the group's board of directors. They already control several seats, and more are up for grabs. The dispute gets to two core questions among environmental activists.
Ewwwww.....!
Lol!!
I’m all for conserving, recycling, carpooling and trying to practice what I preach, but this was such a shameless campaign plug, as I’m sure you can imagine.
And if she really cared about the environment, she would SECURE THE BORDER so the invading hordes couldn’t leave behind millions of tons of garbage and ruin our beautiful desert!!
/end rant
ping
What a collection of idiots. I am surprised they could walk around there without falling into the ditch. Grijalva is one of those members of the U.S. Congress who actually represents Mexico and Mexicans. The Sierra Club sold its soul several years ago when it had that vote deciding that immigration has no effect on the environment or on resources.
He said he was so upset by the idea of "pulling kids out of school" that he donated more than $180,000 to the campaign to oppose Proposition 187. After the measure passed, he said, he donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to civil rights lawyers who ultimately got the measure struck down in court.Gelbaum, who reads the Spanish-language newspaper La Opinión and is married to a Mexican American, said his views on immigration were shaped long ago by his grandfather, Abraham, a watchmaker who had come to America to escape persecution of Jews in Ukraine before World War I.
"I asked, 'Abe, what do you think about all of these Mexicans coming here?' " Gelbaum said. "Abe didn't speak English that well. He said, 'I came here. How can I tell them not to come?'
"I cannot support an organization that is anti-immigration. It would dishonor the memory of my grandparents."
Got that? This creep and his family were let into the United States centuries after other people did the hard work of establishing the place, and making it the single greatest nation in human history - which he then benefited from in ways that the Pioneers and their families could never even imagine.
So what does he do? Spends all of his time doing his level best to destroy the country, because....sniff sniff....it would dishonor his grandpa.
Which is bunk anyway. Mass non-European immigration into the United States is a campaign to disempower the Americans in their own country by Balkanizing it, and he knows it. His platitudes about not wanting to be mean to the Sacred, Noble Reconquistadores is a lie.
So now you know. When we heard about the $100 million just prior to the Sierra club elections, we assumed it was a Mexican government attempt to subvert a major policy organization. But it wasn't them. It was him.
They probably couldn't believe that a guy who got so much out of the United States would be such a damn traitor. In their country, he would have been gone.
My opinion? It was a mistake to let him and his family of traitors in. So we should just de-citizenize him and deport him.
And I mean that.
As might be expected when a politician marries an astronaut, the guest list is a little more eclectic than that of other southern Arizona weddings.
The wedding party includes a NASA scientist, commercial pilot, astronauts, state Rep. Linda Lopez, D-Tucson, and former Democrat state Sen. Elaine Richardson.
Robert B. Reich, former secretary of labor in the Clinton administration, will deliver one of the blessings during the ceremony.
“We expect between 300 and 350 guests, including some from England, Israel, Mexico and China,” said wedding planner Suzy Gershman.
In keeping with their wish for an eco-friendly, local-focus wedding, Kelly and Giffords rented property on a working organic farm in southern Arizona for their ceremony.
The food - Gershman described it as “American meets Mexican” - is from local vendors, and some of the reception tableware is made from sugar cane fiber that biodegrades in 30 to 90 days.
In addition, Giffords is wearing a borrowed wedding dress and the wedding favors will be jars of honey from the Santa Cruz River Valley.
Neither Giffords nor Kelly is concerned about the long-distance aspect of their marriage.
“There’s numerous couples in the astronaut office that have long-distance relationships,” said Giffords, who also is becoming stepmother to Kelly’s daughters, Claire, 10, and Claudia, 12, who live in Houston.
“I can’t imagine a lot is going to change in our married life,” she said. “This is what we’ve always known. I imagine it would be different if you had started in the same ZIP code.”
Besides, said Kelly, the Tucson-Houston-Florida-D.C. merry-go-round isn’t permanent.
“We will not live apart forever,” the astronaut predicted. “At some point - probably within the next six or seven years, I’ll be living in D.C. or Tucson.”
The couple will not take a honeymoon for at least a year, Giffords said, “because he’s in training until April and I’m facing a tough re-election year.”
When they do, Kelly has expressed interest in a tour of the Orient, and Giffords, a motorcycle enthusiast, said she’d like to do a motorcycle tour.
Until then, it will be seeing each other “as much as we can with our jobs,” Giffords said.
“There’s numerous couples in the astronaut office that have long-distance relationships,” said Giffords..." Yeah, like Lisa Nowak."
Giffords is a semi weirdo. Amazing how thsese jerk off with drive and ambition get to rule over us. She’s a liberal idiot from what I’ve read
http://giffords.house.gov/biography/index.shtml
She says she’s small business woman yet never mentions what the business was. Her bio shows her mostly in universities and gubbermint
I’m Jewish and wish I could disown Jewish traitors like David Gelbaum. He single handedly got the Sierra Club to be mute on illegal immigration and population growth. He threatened to withhold his donations. Now I find he helped kill 187 in court. Of course this skunk operates on the QT
He dishonors his grand father’s memory by marrying a Mexican woman because his children won’t be and aren’t Jewish. So much for this rat and his references to his grandfather’s struggles when he came to America
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