Thread: U.S. border mayors block fence crews

U.S. border mayors block fence crews
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) — Mayors along the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas have begun a quiet protest of the federal government's plans to build a fence along the border: They are refusing to give access to their land.

Mayors in Brownsville, Del Rio and El Paso have denied access to some parts of their city property, turning away federal employees assigned to begin surveys or conduct other preliminary work on the fence meant to keep out illegal aliens.

"This is exercising our rights. This is our property. We are not going to make it easy for them," said Brownsville Mayor Pat Ahumada, who refused last month to sign documents granting government workers permission to enter city property.

In Eagle Pass, Mayor Chad Foster initially refused the Border Patrol's request to build 1½ miles of fencing as part of a project that includes light towers and a new road for patrols. Now he is negotiating with the Department of Homeland Security.

"All of us are in opposition to physical barriers, but we want to work with DHS so everybody walks away happy," Mr. Foster said.

Del Rio and El Paso granted workers limited access, said Monica Weisberg Stewart of the Texas Border Coalition, a group that represents local officials.

Congress has authorized $1.2 billion to put up 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border. The project would include about 330 miles of so-called virtual fence — a network of cameras, high-tech sensors, radar and other technology. The remaining 370 miles, primarily in more urban areas, are expected to have an actual fence.


State and local officials have said the fence will destroy ecosystems by cutting off the Rio Grande, the only source of fresh water in the region. They also say it will hurt the cross-border economy and send the wrong message to neighbors in Mexico.

Brownsville, a city of 170,000 people across the Rio Grande from Matamoros, Mexico, said the city was considering a lawsuit against the federal government to prevent the fence's construction on city property.


U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Brad Benson said the federal government has not responded to the cities yet, but officials expected some landowners would refuse.

"We will work with everybody. We plan to accommodate any credible concerns with regard to the environment," Mr. Benson said. "Our mission at the end of the day is to secure the border."

David Crump, a law professor at the University of Houston Law Center, said for now, landowners can keep anybody out of their property for any reason, but a legislative body could override that right.

"Either the Texas Legislature or Congress can give power to an agency to do it," said Mr. Crump, who specializes in real property law.


http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/ ... 30066/1002

These mayors should rightly be called Spokesmen for the drug cartels.

They also say it will hurt the cross-border economy and send the wrong message to neighbors in Mexico.

I think it sends the right message, come through the front door or don't come at all. What is wrong with these people? The Fed's should stop all federal funding to their towns.

Wait one minute. They are putting the entire nation at risk for this behavior. If they want to do this then they need a border around Texas Agreed? I think we need to threaten a law suit here. One head is harmed in this country we are going to be looking at TEXAS!

This is so simple to answer. We build the fence around the outskirts of their land and make them a part of Mexico. Then we can listen to them cry for help.

There is a simply answer to this problem.
any land owner that refuses should have eminent domain declared on his property and be forced to forfeit it to the government. then you can build a fence
Trust me if you declare eminent domain once these clowns will fall in line!

Originally Posted by Bostonteaparty

There is a simply answer to this problem.
any land owner that refuses should have eminent domain declared on his property and be forced to forfeit it to the government. then you can build a fence
Trust me if you declare eminent domain once these clowns will fall in line!

Declare eminent domain against a city.

Originally Posted by Bostonteaparty

There is a simply answer to this problem.
any land owner that refuses should have eminent domain declared on his property and be forced to forfeit it to the government. then you can build a fence
Trust me if you declare eminent domain once these clowns will fall in line!

You took the words right out of my mouth!

I believe it’s simpler then eminent domain. Building the fence is Federal Law that Congress passed, and no lesser government can supercede federal law. By impeding the execution of Federal laws opens the cities/persons to Federal prosecution. Call the FBI!