Two of Arizona’s members of Congress condemn use of border fence waivers


By Dick Kamp
Wick News Service



Arizona’s two members of Congress who have districts along the U.S.-Mexico border reacted Tuesday to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security waiving laws to build a fence, as well as install surveillance and other equipment. The department wants to complete the fence by December.

The construction of the fence — north of the actual border on private and non-federal public land — has angered many along the Texas border, particularly in Brownsville where the president of the local community college has led protests against it.

U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., said Tuesday that not just environmental law, “but a total of 36 laws and rules, such as regulations on procurement, no longer exist in this heavy-handed action affecting people along the border from the Pacific to the Gulf of Mexico.â€