Unified Action – April 2008 – Say NO to the Border Fence
Urge Governor Richardson to say NO to the Border Fence
Sponsored by Southwest Evnironmental Center
For more information email Adam Guss or call him at (575)522-5552
What we are asking
Call Governor Richardson’s office
(505) 476-2200
and urge him to call on Congress to implement a moratorium on additional fence building along the border until proper environmental analysis is completed and orderly public input is allowed.
Upon completion of this action, please send an “I did it” to unifiedaction@pva-nm.org.
Key Reasons to Say “NO”
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has bypassed more than 30 laws regarding the construction of the border fence, including the National Environmental Policy Act.
- Construction of the fence should not move forward until environmental analysis is completed and appropriate public input is allowed.
- The Border Fence will have serious impacts on wildlife living in the border region and will do little to combat illegal border crossings.
- DHS wants to complete the fence before a new president is elected.
The Issue
On April 1, 2008, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff used his authority to waive more than 30 environmental and cultural laws which will allow DHS to build 370 miles of new fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border. There would be 57 miles of fencing and 21 miles of high-powered lighting from El Paso downstream along the Rio Grande.
This recent move by Chertoff is the fourth time he has used the waiver authority that was granted to him through the Real ID Act in 2005.
Being faced with growing and unexpectedly fierce opposition, DHS is attempting to cut every corner in order to complete 7000 miles of fencing, dozens of miles of high-powered lighting, and scores of roads along the U.S.-0Mexico border before the Bush Administration is out of office.
If the DHS is allowed to move forward with fence construction before proper environmental analysis can be completed, severe damage will be done to wildlife habitats in the borderland region, including areas such as Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, the San Pedro Riparian National conservation Area, the Lower Rio Grande Valley Wildlife Refuge, and the rio Grande near El Paso. Within these areas live a number of endangered and threatened species, including jaguar, ocelot, Gila monster, and Sonoran pronghorn.
We need a comprehensive approach to border security that addresses root causes, is effective, and does not cause harm to border wildlife and ecosystems.