Thread: No One's on the Fence as Mexico Rips 'Disgraceful' Plan

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3551212.html

Dec. 28, 2005, 7:34AM
No one's on the fence as Mexico rips 'disgraceful' plan, U.S. cites security

By DUDLEY ALTHAUS and JAMES PINKERTON
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

MEXICO CITY - It hasn't even been built, but already a proposed 15-feet-high fence along nearly a third of the U.S.-Mexico border has ignited fiery passions on both sides of the international line.

To diehard supporters, the proposed fence isn't just metal and concrete, it's a way to help protect the United States, cut crime and reduce the threat of terrorism.

But some critics say such a barrier is inhumane and ill-conceived, a logistical nightmare that could jeopardize local border economies, threaten the environment and ultimately cost U.S. taxpayers billions upon billions of dollars.

The fence proposal, which passed overwhelmingly in the House of Representatives on Dec. 16, calls for a double-layered barrier along some of the most vulnerable stretches of the 1,951-mile border, including a 227-mile section of the Rio Grande in Texas.

The Mexican government has come out swinging against the fence and other proposed congressional anti-immigration measures, calling them "xenophobic" and "disgraceful."

Mexico will not "permit and will not be authorizing a foolishness like this wall that is being planned," Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez said.

Derbez returned to Mexico City on Tuesday after voicing his concerns about the proposal to senior State Department officials in Washington.

Mexican officials have also asked leaders throughout Latin America and in Spain and Portugal to join the fight against the fence. Heliodoro Diaz Escarraga, a leader of Mexico's House of Representatives, said he feared that the fence and other anti-immigration measures would "criminalize migration," increase racism and trigger new human rights abuses against migrants.

The Mexican campaign against the fence seems to be resonating in Latin America. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, for instance, has praised Mexican officials' tough stand, calling it "worthy of the dignity of the people of Pancho Villa, of Emiliano Zapata, of the Aztecs."

Mexican officials have gone as far as hiring an American public relations firm, Dallas-based Allyn and Co.

Rob Allyn, its president, said the firm's mandate was to promote positive images of a changing Mexico and would not work directly on immigration issues.

No matter, just how successful Mexican officials will be in swaying U.S. public opinion is unclear, some experts say.

Condemning the U.S. anti-immigration measures outright may prove counterproductive, said Rick Swartz, a Washington lobbyist who in past year has worked for both the Mexican government and pro-immigration groups on immigration issues.

''Historically, such protests have been used against Mexico and provided an excuse for certain politicians to become even more anti-immigrant," he said. ''At this point, it's high risk for the Mexican government to denounce either the Bush administration or Republicans in Congress."

Wayne Cornelius, director of the Center for Immigration Studies at the University of California-San Diego, agreed.

''Even that kind of diplomatic strategy may be akin to locking the barn door after the horse has escaped,'' he said. ''The Mexican government cannot hope to accomplish much by lobbying the U.S. Congress, on this or any other immigration-related issue.''

Growing numbers
Anti-immigration measures in the U.S. have gained considerable grass-roots support in the past decade as immigrants continue streaming across the border.

Since the last immigration reform law was passed in 1996, the number of illegal, mostly Mexican, immigrants has swelled from 3 million to an estimated 11 million. And now Mexican immigrants can be found in small towns and cities across the United States.

That, coupled with the public's concerns about homeland security since the terrorist attacks of September 2001, has created a powerful constituency for trying to seal the borders.

The House proposal calls for fencing along nearly 700 miles of border, including the stretch from Laredo to Brownsville in Texas. There would be a road in the middle of the fences, which would be 15 feet high. An additional two-foot overhang slanted toward the Mexican side of the border, would make it even more difficult for migrants to climb the fence.

To become reality, the House proposal, or a version of it, must be passed by the Senate, which is scheduled to take up the issue in February.

Proponents of the barrier eventually would like "to see a fence along the entire border," said Mike Harrison, a spokesman for Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., a principal backer of the measure.

And though it's far too early to say if the fence will ever be built, many people south of the border see it as anti-Mexican.

"If we look at it as a symbol, it's an attack on Mexicans," said Marcelo Cortez, 38, a manufacturing supervisor from Monterrey. "It's kind of like the United States doesn't want to have anything to do with us."

Other Mexican foes of the fence say they fear it would cause a spike in migrant deaths because it would force people to cross the border in more remote and hazardous areas.

Still others predict that such a barrier would hurt commerce as tough enforcement slows the crossings of legitimate travelers, including tourists and shoppers.

But in such spots as Harlingen, a city of 61,000 near the southern tip of Texas, feelings about the fence are decidedly mixed.

"It's a good idea because we have a lot of people crossing here," said Ruby Garza, whose husband runs a 1,000-acre farm on the Rio Grande near Harlingen. "Most are not coming do to any harm, but others are drug traffickers. The Border Patrol has caught quite a lot of people doing that around here."

Flor Lopez, 42, a store manager from nearby Brownsville, says she thinks the fence would deter criminals who prey on the undocumented.

''There are a lot of people on the river who wait for the undocumented to come across," she said. "They rob them, assault them. They take advantage of the illegals."

Expense, environment
Others along the border point out that fencing long stretches along the Rio Grande would be a daunting and expensive effort, given the countless curves and oxbows that add hundreds of miles to the border's length.

In addition, much of the land along the river is privately owned, which could lead to costly and drawn-out condemnation proceedings in the courts if owners declined to sell.

Not only that, adding new fence could hurt the environment, some say.

When the U.S. Border Patrol launched Operation Rio Grande in South Texas in the 1990s, national conservation groups sued in federal court and forced modifications of the agencies' planned roads, clear cut zones and river bank lighting.

The proposed fence "would deprive everyone along the river, on this side, the use of the river,'' said David Benn, 54, a longtime Brownsville resident and nature guide. ''We won't be able to use it recreationally, we won't be able to put a kayak in the river, or fish in the river."

Migrant farmworker Jose Manuel Lopez said the fence simply shouldn't be built.

"I think it would be like the Berlin Wall,'' said the longtime resident of Carricitos, a small community on the Rio Grande. ''Didn't they tear that down? A lot of people here don't want it."

Dudley Althaus reported from Mexico City and James Pinkerton reported from along the Texas-Mexico border.

dqalthaus@yahoo.com
james.pinkerton@chron.com

Mexico will not "permit and will not be authorizing a foolishness like this wall that is being planned," Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez said

.

AND, this fence will be on WHOSE LAND???

When did Mexico start telling the United States of America what they would "AUTHORIZE"?? ARE THEY CRAZY???

Mexico will not "permit and will not be authorizing a foolishness like this wall that is being planned," Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez said.

What a quote!! What an idiot!!

RR

Pancho Villa wasn't he the person who led the raid across the border that burnt Columbus. New Mexico. how perceptive of you Hugo.

Good thing to hear the environmentalists concerns regarding the harming of the border areas. Funny how they never seem to be bothered by scenes like these:

Quote:
Mexico will not "permit and will not be authorizing a foolishness like this wall that is being planned," Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez said.

This can't be. Tell me this is just a bad dream. TELL ME!!

George Bush, you are a TRAITOR to our country !

From the Mexican point of view, the fence IS like the Berlin Wall. The Berlin Wall kept poor East Germans from moving to propserous West Germany. The Mexico Fence will keep poor Southern Mexicans from moving to prosperous "North Mexico" (the US). In other words, they feel the US, or at least the Southwest part, is actually still Mexican territory. That is why they are so opposed to the fence, it will keep them from migrating to Mexican territory. This is what Mexicans are taught from an early age, that the US "stole" North Mexico, and it is still rightfully part of Mexico, and Mexicans have every right to come here.

Well, FRANKLY, I don't CARE what they think about the FENCE. If they would do their part in CONTROLLING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, there wouldn't have ever been the need for a fence. And, if they want to BRAINWASH their children into thinking that THEY own the border states, that's a problem THEY need to RECTIFY.

THE FENCE IS to keep ILLEGALS and terrorists from crossing our Southern border. SIMPLE CONCEPT.

I agree, we should have the fence, if for no other reason that to show Mexico that the Southwest does indeed belong to the US, not Mexico. I guess if they don't like it they can hold their breath until they turn blue. Not much else they can do.