Thread: El Paso:No fence access

City: No fence access
By Erica Molina Johnson / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 03/19/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT


The El Paso City Council on Tuesday unanimously opposed the installation of new border fencing sought by the Department of Homeland Security by denying access to a road by the Albuquerque District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The corps wanted to use the road to reach a staging area on International Boundary and Water Commission property.

Although prohibiting access to the Corps of Engineers may impede the federal government's process, it probably will not halt it, said Barry Morrissey, spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Washington, D.C.

"We're looking at other options," Morrissey said. "We're optimistic we'll be able to work through this and continue with the project."

The vote came after a presentation by El Paso Sector Border Patrol officials on the national Secure Border Initiative, which would increase personnel, and improve technology, innovation and infrastructure designed to prevent illegal crossing on foot over 93.14 miles of fence in the sector.

About 12 miles of that fencing would be inside the city.

Border Patrol Supervisory Agent John Contreras told the council that between one and 1Ã¥ miles would be new fencing inside the city. Existing fences would be replaced on the rest of that 12.58-mile stretch.

The plan also calls for 300 miles of fencing to prevent illegal vehicle crossings along the Southwest border, including 82.73 miles in the El Paso sector. Of that, 82.69 miles would go in New Mexico. Less than half a mile would be installed in Texas.
After the meeting, Eastridge/Mid-Valley city Rep. Steve Ortega said, "We all agree there is a problem with undocumented immigrants, but I think the federal proposal is a simple-minded, kindergarten-type of solution seeking to address a real problem." He said he would prefer that the discussion center on proposals to deal with the problems causing illegal immigration.

The council also unanimously voted to instruct Mayor John Cook to draft a letter to Congress explaining its denial of the access road request, emphasizing that the Border Patrol's plan presented Tuesday may not comply with the Hutchison Amendment that requires community consultation.

"As I understand it (the consultation), it's not just for information, but an engaged process," West-Central city Rep. Susie Byrd said after the meeting. "What was presented, that's not a consultation. They at no time asked us for feedback."

She said the federal government may not be allowed to release money for the project if the community consultation requirement is not met.

The fence "is not a solution to the problems we have," Westsider Martina Morales said. "The only thing it's going to do is cause more deaths on the border because people are going to cross through more-remote areas."

Border Patrol Assistant Chief Roy Hoats told the council that multiple efforts had been made to obtain El Pasoans' input.

"We have been actively engaged with the community," he said. "Overwhelmingly, the local citizenry of El Paso is in support of our fencing initiatives. We did have several meetings where there were opponents of our technology and fencing initiatives."

The meetings organized by the Border Patrol were advertised primarily through fliers distributed in neighborhoods, though one in February was mentioned in the newspaper and on television.

"We're doing what we can to get the word out, and we will continue to do that," Contreras said.

In Washington, D.C., Morrissey said that in addition to meetings, comments could be submitted by fax, e-mail, mail, online and in person.

Fernando Garcia, executive director of the Border Network for Human Rights, an immigrant-rights group in El Paso, said he was disappointed by the actions of the Border Patrol in El Paso.

"We are a major stakeholder on this issue. We never heard about any serious consultation," he said. "They tried to mislead the City Council (with claims of community support). Hopefully this opens the space in El Paso to discuss the issues of the border fence."

Northeast resident Ken Muise said the city should be made to cooperate.

He said that if the city did not cooperate, the federal government should withhold all money meant for El Paso.

Hoats told the council that the fencing costs between $1 million and $4 million a mile.

But East Side Rep. Rachel Quintana said during the meeting, "That $12 (million) to $50 million would be better served with technology rather than a fence."

Although the discussion focused on the border fence, Hoats reminded the council that the plan also included personnel, technology, other infrastructure and innovation.

Ortega called the border fence plan one that "caters to the reactionary and xenophobic element of political leadership."

He said that although he would not be surprised to see the federal government's plan to move forward regardless of the actions of the El Paso City Council, he hopes for change in 2009.

"I think there's a high likelihood the next presidential administration and next Congress will reconsider the silly measure," he said. "I think both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both stated they would re-examine this."

Erica Molina Johnson may be reached at emolina@elpasotimes.com; 546-6132.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_8619684

unbelievable that the city would want druga to continue to pour into it.Do they care nothing about the chidren there?

Ortega called the border fence plan one that "caters to the reactionary and xenophobic element of political leadership."


What's the old saying "follow the money." Maybe Ortega's financial matters need to be looked into.

Isn't it strange, that land can be TAKEN from a small owner, but simple ACCESS cannot be TAKEN from the city? BULL. The government needs to quit kissing butts and get on with the business of getting the fence built.

If they don't want to grant access, let's see how they get along with NO FEDERAL DOLLARS.

The fence "is not a solution to the problems we have," Westsider Martina Morales said. "The only thing it's going to do is cause more deaths on the border because people are going to cross through more-remote areas."

We don't want illegal aliens crossing our border period.

How would the people of El Paso feel if the fence was built NORTH of the city????????

"I think there's a high likelihood the next presidential administration and next Congress will reconsider the silly measure," he said. "I think both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both stated they would re-examine this."

"silly measure"?! IS IT SILLY TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY?

Just wait until they secure the border in other surrounding areas and ALL of the illegals start crossing at their border!!!

I can only imagine how Mr. Loya feels now!

THEY SHOULD JUST PUT THE FENCE AROUND THE PERIMETER OF EL PASO AND LET MEXICO HAVE EM. WILL ME MISS EL PASO? NO.
THEY CAN CHANGE THE NAME OF THE TOWN TO EL PASADO.

I'm sure that the PATRIOTS like Mr. Loya would like a chance to GET OUT of El Paso BEFORE it is walled OUT of OUR COUNTRY into MEXICO!