Thread: TX-Government rejects border fence alternative

Government rejects border fence alternative
By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN Associated Press Writer © 2008 The Associated Press
Aug. 19, 2008, 11:46AM
McALLEN, Texas — The Department of Homeland Security denied Cameron County's proposal to build miles of combined border wall and levee along the border's southernmost point.

In a letter, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Ralph Basham told Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos that they had determined the project "is not feasible."

Basham cited the cost of the project based on similar work in neighboring Hidalgo County and inability to coordinate the work with the International Boundary and Water Commission, which has already started building up the county's levees.

But Cascos said he believed the driving force was the congressionally-mandated deadline to build 670 miles of pedestrian and vehicle fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border by year's end.

"I think this could have been done," Cascos said. "I think DHS was concerned about the deadline." Cascos said he had heard earlier that the county's proposal would not fly, but did not see it in writing until Tuesday.

On Monday, when asked about the project's timeline, Cascos had said, "If we don't get started last week, we may not be able to meet the deadline."

With just more than four months remaining in the year, no border fence construction has started in Cameron County.

Several land condemnation cases remain in court and earlier this month received trial dates for next year. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen indicated he could give the government access to the parcels as early as September so the project could proceed while compensation for landowners is worked out in court.

A compromise Hanen approved between Homeland Security and the University of Texas at Brownsville about border fencing on campus appeared to clear the way for that once hotly-contested segment to become the first to get underway in the county. The university received government approval for its fence design and requested proposals last week.

The Army Corps of Engineers invited contractors to bid on three of the Cameron County fence segments — of a total 35 miles planned for the county — in May, but none have been awarded.

Three of the contractors who initially expressed interest in the work said Monday the contracts were on hold but they were unclear why. One, who did not want to be identified because the project details are classified as confidential, said the talk among contractors is that the government is waiting to see which candidate wins the presidential election.

Katherine Shelton, an Army Corps of Engineers spokeswoman in Fort Worth did not explain the delay, but in reference to the end-of-year goal, said "that's the drop dead deadline."

In Hidalgo County where construction has been underway since July on two fence segments, there has been talk of flexibility in the deadline.

Godfrey Garza, head of Hidalgo County Drainage District 1, which is overseeing the county's part of the project, said Monday that Homeland Security had recently offered the county some extra time to complete the work. The county's initial agreement with Homeland Security had already allowed some finishing touches to be completed past the end of the year. Still, he said the project was on schedule.

Barry Morrissey, a Customs and Border Protection spokesman, did not offer an explanation Monday for the extra time.


http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5953297.html

-Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector Apprehensions-
----------OCT---NOV---DEC---JAN----FEB---MAR---APR----MAY---JUN---JUL----AUG----SEP
FY2008--5989--4696--3974--5217--6879---8545--9419--7961---6316--5561
FY2007--5772--4549--3649--5798--6172---8431---7645--7736--5791--6225--6331---5331
FY2006-10060--9111--7128--9533-10444-13080-11264-11649--7516--7109--7020---6614
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FY2004--5414--5053--4636--8102--8732-10149--9618---8916---7423--8826--8542---7536
FY2003--6024--4218--3814--7630--7905--7498---6560---7095--6153--7042--7737---6073
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FY1999-10921-10801-7954-17980-19499-21909-17720-14784-11895-12430-11936-11322
---Length 316 miles----1,992 BP agents----70 miles initially proposed


Brownsville Station - (956) 548-2533 - 25 miles of river
Corpus Christi Station - (361) 289-0552 -
Falfurrias Station - (361) 325-7000
Fort Brown Station - (956) 547-3100 - 53 river miles
Harlingen Station - (956) 366-3000 - 37 miles of river area.
Kingsville Station - (361) 592-3284 - checkpoint at Sarita,
McAllen Station - (956) 618-8163, (956) 984-3800 - 53 river miles
Rio Grande City Station - (956) 487-1044 - 68 miles
Weslaco Station (956) 968-0602 - 40 miles of river

DHS rejects border fence/levee

August 19, 2008 - 9:47PM
By LAURA B. MARTINEZ/The Brownsville Herald


Cameron County soon could see installation of approximately 37 miles of border fencing, following the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's rejection of the county's proposed alternative to the fence.

The DHS said the county's proposal to combine the Rio Grande's levees with the planned U.S. border fence is not feasible and would be much more costly than anticipated. Although no construction date has been set, the DHS hopes to have fence construction finished this year.

County Judge Carlos H. Cascos on Tuesday said he suspected this would be the outcome.

"We did everything that we could do (to offer them an alternative to fence construction)," Cascos said. "It's unfortunate, but we have to move."

The county was notified Monday afternoon of DHS's decision. A letter from U.S. Customs and Border Protection to Cascos said the "key factors" in reaching the conclusion pertains to the cost and coordination with the International Boundary and Water Commission, which is working on levee improvements in the Cameron County area.

"We do not believe it will be feasible to collaborate with them in a joint levee-barrier project,'' wrote W. Ralph Basham, commissioner for CBP, in the letter.

"As we proceed with planned installation of border security fencing in Cameron County, we will maintain open dialogue with your community and affected landowners," the letter further states.

Cascos said he asked for something in writing, so there would be "no misunderstanding" of the government's decision.

The judge said he will also request something in writing from IBWC Commissioner Carlos Marin stating that "these levees are going to be fine" and will meet FEMA guidelines and requirements.

U.S. Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, said in a statement that he was disappointed by the decision given the fact that he and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison had attempted to intervene on the county's behalf requesting that the DHS consider the county's proposal.

"While costs should always be a concern when it comes to the use of taxpayer dollars, this was a common-sense solution that put federal dollars to good use not only for the safety of local residents but also for our national security," Cornyn statement said. "The levee proposal is the type of innovative solution DHS should be pursuing as we work to secure the borders. I will continue to work with county officials and DHS as we move forward."

The DHS letter comes about a week after reports that the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers was soliciting bids for fencing in the county. Seven companies were invited to bid on the fence. As of Tuesday, no bids have been awarded.

Cameron County had hoped a memorandum of understanding between the county and IBWC signed last week would steer the county closer to getting federal approval on its proposed border fence/levee project.

For more than a month, county officials have been awaiting word from DHS on whether it would approve the county's alternative to a border fence.

The MOU was similar to the one signed by Hidalgo County officials earlier this year. It was expected to be sent to IBWC last week.

Although County Commissioners approved the memorandum of understanding, they also authorized the removal of some language that International Boundary and Water Commission might had wanted included.

The memorandum would not be validated unless the DHS approved the county's fence/levee proposal.

The two paragraphs removed from the memorandum included that the county has funding for the agreement and the county understands that the DHS is not obligated to make any reimbursements to the county.

County officials had been visiting with officials at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, to find out the DHS's plans.

"They are going to be doing something," is what UTB-TSC officials told the county, Cascos said.

Federal officials opted not to build a fence on the UTB-TSC campus, which would have divided it, because the university came up with an alternative proposal that got DHS approval.

Meanwhile, several lawsuits filed by landowners against the DHS are pending in federal court.

www.brownsvilleherald.com

Border fence to proceed in Cameron County
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January 13, 2009 - 7:27 PM
By LAURA B. MARTINEZ
The Brownsville Herald
BROWNSVILLE - It looks like hope has run out for Hope Park.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a notice to proceed with the construction of the border fence that includes Hope Park near the downtown area.

Local officials were notified Tuesday that a notice to proceed with the border fence project had been issued.

The fence will run from an extension of Palm Boulevard to the Fort Brown Memorial Golf Course, which is off River Levee Drive, and will be in the areas of Hope Park near downtown Brownsville and the Gateway International Bridge, the notice reads.

Cameron County Judge Carlos H. Cascos said he didn't believe the land involved was county owned. He has often said that the DHS was going to move forward with the fence in the face of public opposition. Although the county had offered an alternative to the fence's construction plan, the DHS rejected its levee-fence proposal.

Brownsville Mayor Pat M. Ahumada Jr. could not be reached for comment.

Although no actual construction date has been scheduled, the cleaning of the area where the fence will be built is expected to begin soon, the notice reads.

No other information was immediately available.

Lloyd Easterling, spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, could not be reached for comment.

The DHS news comes one day after Brownsville city officials agreed to join an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, challenging DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff's waiver of state and local laws in order to build a fence along the border.

The notice is similar to one released two weeks ago in which county officials were notified that site preparations were to begin in eight areas of the county.

These areas include Nemo Road and Weaver's Mountain near Harlingen; west and east Los Indios; La Paloma; Ho chi Minh-Estero, also near Harlingen; and the Riverbend Resort Water Tower and the Public Utilities Board fence line in Brownsville.

Last week, huge dump trucks could be seen traveling to and from the river levee near the Riverbend Resort Water Tower on Highway 281, where 1.6 miles of the fencing will be constructed.
http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/f ... ville.html