Letter: Dealings stall on levee, fence

June 13, 2008 - 10:49PM
By LAURA B. MARTINEZ/The Brownsville Herald
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials will cease negotiations with Cameron County on the county's enhanced levee system project as an alternative for the border fence, according to two senators.

This statement is included in a letter addressed to Michael Chertoff, secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, that was sent Friday from U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison.

The senators requested Chertoff quickly "facilitate" a meeting with Cameron County officials and CPB regarding the levee/fence proposal.

"We believe the levee/fence concept deserves thorough consideration. The CBP agreement with neighboring Hidalgo County demonstrates that such an approach can enhance border security and meet the federal mandate for comprehensive flood protection," states the letter, which was provided to the Brownsville Herald late Friday afternoon.

The combination fence/levee proposal would also save taxpayer dollars, the letter further states.

Cameron County Judge Carlos H. Cascos said he had not received a copy of the letter and expressed concern that CBP officials were not giving the county's proposal more consideration.

"Why is that our deal is not acceptable and Hidalgo County's was? Maybe there are some legitimate reasons for it," Cascos said, later adding, "I need to hear exactly why it is and do we have time to cure it."

The letter goes on to state that a meeting between the county and CBP "built around a frank and substantive exchange regarding what each side requires to advance the negotiations" would be a benefit to both entities.

Last month, Cascos sent letters to Cornyn and Hutchison to request they draft an amendment that would place a moratorium on the fence construction in the county.

In addition, he sought a 6- to 12-month extension on the Dec. 31 deadline in which the government hopes to have the fence completed.

Extending the deadline is something the DHS did for Hidalgo County, following that county's agreement to work with the federal government for the construction of a concrete barrier that in some sections will serve as border wall.

The agreement pushes back Hidalgo County's levee project completion date to March 2009 from December of this year. Under the agreement, the DHS will give Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 $65.7 million to construct the concrete barrier. The drainage district will have to fund the remaining cost, which is about $48.2 million.

If Cameron County officials are able to meet with CBP authorities and come up with a proposal suitable to DHS, Cascos hopes Cameron County will be given the same extension provided to neighboring Hidalgo County.

‘They haven't even broken ground yet and I anticipate they may get a longer extension if they don't hurry up and break ground," Cascos said.

Unlike other counties along the Texas border, Cameron County Commissioners declined to join a federal lawsuit filed against the DHS opposing the border fence

Several landowners whose property could or will be impacted by the border fence pleaded with Commissioners Court to join a lawsuit filed by Eloisa Tamez and the Texas Border Coalition against the DHS in protest of the fence.

lmartinez@brownsvilleherald.com