Thread: Chertoff heading to Texas for border fence talks

Feb. 6, 2008, 3:51PM
Chertoff heading to Texas for border fence talks


By SUZANNE GAMBOA Associated Press Writer
© 2008 The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Wednesday he is heading to Texas to tie up plans for flood walls along the Rio Grande that could double as parts of a border fence.

Chertoff told The Associated Press he would be in McAllen on Friday, and is very close to reaching an agreement with county officials on plans to build the walls.

Chertoff's department has been discussing with Hidalgo County a proposal to build the concrete walls to beef up flood levees and comply with a 2006 law requiring 700 miles of fencing on the U.S.-Mexico border. Chertoff said the walls would meet both federal border security and local flood protection needs.

"We are always open to working with communities if we can find a way to satisfy our operational needs and satisfy their concerns," he said. "But it requires them to really step up to the plate and engage with us and be prepared to make sacrifices. Merely complaining is not going to deter us from moving forward with our plan, but a constructive alternative is always welcome."

Officials had previously signaled support for Hidalgo County's proposal to replace earthen berms with 22 miles of border flood walls, said county spokeswoman Cari Lambrecht.

If Chertoff officially approves the walls in his visit Friday, as expected, Salinas said county officials will feel "we've talked to federal government and they've listened to a common sense solution."

The county already had been working on plans to rebuild its earthen levees when Congress mandated the 700-mile fence. Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas said the Homeland Security Department initially wanted to build fencing on top of the eroding berms, which the county opposed. The concrete walls will stand up to 18-feet tall depending on the terrain. They will replace the berms, which are on land belonging to the federal government.

The county has many more miles of border protected by earthen levees that are not part of the proposal, Lambrecht said.

Chertoff said the county would pay some costs of the walls so it would not hurt the Homeland Security budget. The county also has hoped to offset costs of repairing its levees with federal assistance.

Some local officials, residents and business owners have resisted federal efforts to build fencing or walls along the border. Opponents have said fences will interrupt commerce, harm farmers and ranchers who depend on the Rio Grande, split some communities, and cut off land owners from property. Others are concerned about its effects on the often symbiotic relationships between U.S. and Mexico border cities.

Several landowners have refused to allow federal officials on their property to survey sites for the fence. That has prompted several lawsuits, a few of which resulted in landowners being ordered to comply.

"We urge the federal government to go region by region and listen to the region. No one wants Homeland Security more than us. We don't disagree with Homeland Security. We disagree with the approach and how they use our money," Salinas said.

An Hidalgo County study has concluded a levee collapse and severe flooding could cost the county — one of the poorest in the nation — more than $1.7 billion.

Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison will join Chertoff in McAllen on Friday. The Texas Republicans voted for the fence but in response to opposition have pressed for Chertoff to consult with local officials.

"I am very hopeful that this proposal will soon move forward. All evidence indicates it would prevent flooding, save taxpayer dollars and improve security," Cornyn said in a statement.

Chertoff also will travel to Arizona on Thursday to view a border technology and fence project and to meet with the family of a Border Patrol agent killed trying to stop a suspected smuggler.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5519457.html

Idiot John Stockley,a 74 year old resident ofEagle Pass ,Texas said ''I keep thinking if we took this money that's going to be spent not just here,all along the border,and put it into the MEXICAN economy,we'd probably have people going back the other way''.In other words instead of building a fence to stop drugs, etc,we should give american's money to mexico.We already give hundreds of millions to mexico plus military vehicles that are probably being used against our border patrol to run drugs.

I am sure that the entire media will be waiting for him to get there. I am sure this is purely PR.