Proposal for levee wall draws fire from Cameron County residents
ALLEN ESSEX

A proposal to build a concrete wall to bolster Rio Grande levees against Katrina-like flooding, and to satisfy Department of Homeland Security demands for a barrier against terrorists and illegal immigrants, drew fire Tuesday.

Environmentalists and defenders of civil liberties told Cameron County leaders they have serious concerns about adopting a plan by Hidalgo County to reinforce existing river levees with an 18-foot concrete wall to hold back flooding and illegal river-crossers.

Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos said there are two choices. “One. Do nothing, let the federal government do what they’re going to do. Two. Do what Hidalgo County (is planning to do), build a retaining wall,â€