WASHINGTON — In an aggressive move to finish building 670 miles of border fence by the end of 2008, the Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday that it would waive federal environmental laws to meet that goal.
The two waivers, allowing the department to slash through a thicket of environmental and cultural laws, would be the most expansive to date, encompassing land in California, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas.
The waivers are controversial with environmentalists and border communities, which see them as a federal imposition that could damage the land and disrupt wildlife.
But they are praised by conservatives who championed the 2006 Secure Fence Act, despite the reluctance of President Bush, who has said a broader approach is needed to deal with illegal immigration.
Republicans greeted the news with satisfaction.
“It’s great. This is the priority area where most of the illegal activity is going on and where most of the deaths are occurring,” said Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Calif., chairman of the Immigration Reform Caucus. “The quicker we can get the physical fence up, the sooner we’ll avoid situations like the deaths of agents. And it’s still a national security issue. You just have to stop this kind of open traffic along the border.”
Some resistance comes from landowners who protest that the path of the fence might block their access to the Rio Grande; other opponents are concerned that it could increase the danger of extinction for endangered animals, such as the ocelot, a wild cat whose mating habits might be affected.
The waivers are intended to clear the way for fencing to block pedestrians and cars, as well as extra camera, towers and roads near the border. A special waiver was issued for a project in Hidalgo County, Texas, that would combine levees and a barrier.
Congress gave Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff the power to waive federal law in order to build the fence quickly. The department has built 309 miles of fence.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
