Last update : 05/13/2008

News

April 1, 2008

Rodger Schlickeisen President Defenders of Wildlife

I  wish this were an April Fools Day joke, but it’s not. Today, the Bush/Cheney Administration announced that it will waive environmental and land management laws along 470 miles of the U.S./Mexico border.

Laws ensuring clean water for us and our children? Dismissed. Laws protecting wildlife, land, rivers, streams and places of cultural significance? Disregarded. And laws giving American citizens a voice in the process? Gone.

From the Capitol Flyer of the NWRF

Border - FWS Swaps Refuge Lands and Fence Building Commences
 
On November 9, the FWS agreed to a land swap of 5.8 acres with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at the Buenos Aires NWR along the Arizona border with Mexico. Construction of a 12-15 foot tall fence began the same day. DHS must build 700 miles of fencing by the end of next year under the Secure Fence Act of 2006 and part of the fence was to be constructed on the refuge.
 
The refuge manager at the time determined that the fence would have a negative impact on the refuge and was thus, incompatible. In this case, even though the fence was deemed incompatible, DHS would likely have overruled the determination and gone ahead with building the fence anyway. Due to a law passed in 2005, DHS can waive any environmental law in the name of national security and has done so at other locations along the Mexico border. FWS is supposed to receive valuable land in exchange for these 5.8 acres, which could include important inholdings at the refuge. Nevertheless, NWRA believes that divesting refuge lands without substantial public review and input is poor policy and harmful to the integrity of the Refuge System.
 
 

Congressional Responses

Write to  your Senators and Congress Representatives.  Send me responses.  I will post them here.

August 27, 2007 Emmalee Tarry attended meeting with Congressman from NH Paul Hodes.  I left him a copy of the Guide to Birding in the Rio Grande Valley. I asked for information regarding what exactly they are planning for this stretch of the security fence.  He was non-commital.

Finally  A Response from Representative Paul Hodes - 2nd District NH

Received May, 2008

Dear Ms. Tarry,

Thank you for contacting me about funding for the Secure Fence Act.  I truly appreciate hearing from you, and I am working hard to stand up for New Hampshire's interests in Congress.

The first step we must take to combat illegal immigration is to strengthen border security.  We have to target criminals and smugglers to make sure that we have a defendable border.  On my trip to the U.S.-Mexican border at Otay Mesa in San Diego, California, I was able to see the positive effects of the double-layer fence on border security.

The Secure Fence Act requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to construct fencing and install other security features along the U.S.-Mexico border.  Under the bill, which was signed into law on October 26,2006, the department is required to provide at least two layers of reinforced fencing, and install additional physical barriers, roads, lighting cameras and sensors.  The Secure Fence Act provides exceptions in areas with elevation grades above 10 percent, allowing the department to use other means to secure those areas.  The legislation also designated specific areas along the border for the construction, including a 361-mile portion of the border from Calexico, California, to Douglas, Arizona, and from 15 miles northwest, to 15 miles southeast of, the Laredo, Texas port of entry.

Funding for DHS was included in H.R. 2674, the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which was signed into law by President Bush on December 26,2007.  This legislation appropriated $1.2 billion for Customs and Border Protection fencing, infrastructure and technology.  Aside from that amount, an extra $1.05 billlion was designated as emergency spending for Customs and Border Protection Fencing.  The emergency spending is used at the discretion of the President.

The appropriations bill also directs DHS to construct 370 miles of fencing by the end of 2008.  The funds for fencing can only be used if DHS consults with federal agencies, state and local government and property owners to minimize adverse impacts on the environment, culture, commerce and quality of life for local communities and residents.  Please know that I will keep you views in mind should any other legislation on the Secure Fence Act come to the House floor.  *

I encourage you to continue to contact me about the issues that are important to you.  Please visit our website www.hodes.house.gov where you can also sign up for my electronic newsletter and receive periodic update on my activities as your Representative in Washington.

Sincerely,

Paul W. Hodes

Member of Congress

* Seems to already be out of date.  Remember this from News above. April 1, 2008  Today, the Bush/Cheney Administration announced that it will waive environmental and land management laws along 470 miles of the U.S./Mexico border.

Senator Judd Gregg

Response to e-mail to Senator Judd Gregg ¹ who forwarded letter to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  It ended up the responsibility of Seth Statler for Thaddeus M. Bingel Assistant Commissioner ; Office of Congressional Affairs.

Dear Senator Gregg:

Thank you for your letter of March 14,2007, on behalf of your constituent, Ms Emmalee Bowers Tarry.  In your correspondence, you requested a review of Ms. Tarry's concerns regarding the construction of a fence along the Texas border.  U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recently completed its review of this matter.  Please allow me outline our findings.

Securing our borders against terrorists, means of terrorism, illegal drugs and other illicit activity is an important element of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) strategy to detect, deter and mitigate threats to our homeland. CBP is committed to strengthening control of the borders, while facilitating trade and lawful immigration.  This complex mission requires a focused effort from our Nation if we are to succeed.

In November 2005, Secretary Chertoff established the Secure Border Initiative (SBI) as a comprehensive multi-year plan to secure America's borders and reduce illegal migration by achieving three goals: (1) gaining effective control of the borders, (2) strengthening interior enforcement and compliance with immigration and customs laws, and (3) supporting the passage of a Temporary Worker Program.  A critical component of the SBI strategy is SBInet, a program focused on transforming border control through technology and infrastructure, and personnel.  This proper mix will provide the necessary security to significantly reduce illegal border crossings and greatly enhance the ability of DHS to accomplish its homeland security mission.

Present fencing solutions, to which Ms. Tarry refers, are only one component of the SBInet solution.  We are working to best achieve our goal of securing the Nation's borders by developing, testing, and installing the most effective tactical infrastructure along the borders.  The combination of technology, vehicle barriers and fence, when needed, will help maintain and expand coverage of the border in an effort to provide our agents and officers the needed resources to secure our borders against terrorists, smugglers, and illegal immigration.  A significant amount of environmental analysis and study of the affected areas has been completed by CBP, and environmental mitigation measures have been identified to minimize potential impacts.

Gaining full control of our borders is a priority for DHS.  We recognize that illegal migration undercuts the rule of law, threatens our national security, and imposes particular public safety and economic strains on border communities.  It is DHS' responsibility to gain full control of our borders to prevent illegal migration and potential security breaches.

For further information, please refer to the CBP Web site at http://www.cpb.gov.

Thank you for your interest in Customs and Border Protection.  If we may offer further assistance, please contact me at (202)344-1750.

Sincerely,

Seth Statler

for
Thaddeus M. Bingel
Assistant Commissioner
Office of Congressional Affairs.

When I (Emmalee Tarry) called the above number to try to get more information about "  A significant amount of environmental analysis and study of the affected areas has been completed by CBP, and environmental mitigation measures have been identified to minimize potential impacts."

I was told the office only talks to Congressional representatives.  I have put in a call to Senator Gregg.

¹  I also wrote to:  Senator John Sununu, Representative Carol Shea-Porter, Representative Paul Hodes.  To date I have receive NO RESPONSE although Sununu's office claims they sent a snail mail letter. Response from Paul Hodes finally arrive.  See above.