Brownsville border fence plan riles emotions

After public hearing, city votes to delay agreement with federal officials.
ASSOCIATED PRESS


Thursday, July 03, 2008

BROWNSVILLE — After hours of heated debate, city commissioners voted late Tuesday to delay an agreement with the federal government on the border fence.

Mayor Pat Ahumada, an outspoken fence opponent, urged city commissioners to reject a proposal from the Department of Homeland Security to build a temporary fence on 10 acres of city land that could be removed if the city adapted its levees to meet security requirements.

A similar deal has been struck in neighboring Hidalgo County.

Instead Ahumada settled for a 5-1 vote to delay the issue, a victory for fence opponents.

During the public hearing, some Brownsville residents who oppose the border fence plan shouted "No deal," and some were told by police officers to leave their "No Border Wall" signs outside.

Loren Flossman, project manager for Homeland Security's Secure Border Initiative, introduced the border fence plan and said it would allow a removable fence to be built on city land.

The plan would hand over 10 acres of municipal property, valued at $95,800, to the federal government at no cost. In return, the temporary barrier could be removed, and property returned, once the city reinforces 2.4 miles of levees. The city has not yet acquired money to pay for levee reinforcement.

Monica Weisberg-Stewart, immigration chairwoman for the Texas Border Coalition, told the commission to "approach these issues with caution with DHS."

John Moore, a representative of the Border Ambassadors, said he received 123 signed testimonies from landowners along the border who oppose the fence.