U.S.-Mexico Border Fence Plan Nixed

Texas Landowners Have Refused To Allow Federal Government To Build 370 Mile Steel Fence

(AP)  Cold, hard cash is apparently not enough to quell the anger among landowners over a planned fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Opponents of the fence refused federal workers access to their land last month in South Texas. About the same time, the government offered to pay some property owners $3,000 in exchange for permission to conduct surveys for the project.

After many of them balked at the money on principle, the government abandoned the plan.

"I think it's blood money, bribery," said Brownsville Mayor Patricio M. Ahumada Jr.

The proposal to build 370 miles of steel fence is widely opposed in the Rio Grande Valley, the most heavily populated part of the Texas-Mexico border and a region with an economy and culture dependent on cross-border traffic.

The payments were being offered in a region where the median family income is about $30,000. But instead of welcoming the windfall, many residents were outraged when federal officials described the payment plan.

Ahumada, whose border city has already denied fence-planners access to city property, said the payments were insulting and disingenuous.

"The federal government is doing all it can to get access," Ahumada said. "They are thinning the herd (of opposition), so to speak, one by one. These tactics are not unusual when they want to get something done like this."

Johnny Hart, owner of the Riverside Club in Mission, said he sees the money as "nothing more than a bribe." But he wouldn't turn it down.

"Give me $3,000 and you can survey all you want, but it doesn't mean I am not going to fight you" on building the fence, Hart said.

Congress has authorized $1.2 billion to build 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border. The project includes about 330 miles of so-called virtual fence - a network of cameras, high-tech sensors, radar and other technology. The remaining sections, primarily in urban areas are expected to have an actual fence. About 70 miles of actual fence is planned in South Texas.

Noel Benavides, a city councilman and business owner in Roma, said the payments would cloud the issue.

"If this was really something that was going to be beneficial to the whole community and the whole nation, I would be the first person to say, 'My friend, you can go in there and do what you need to do,"' Benavides said. "It's going to be a waste of time. It's not going to stop illegal immigrants."

Benavides, a lifelong resident of Roma, said residents and local governments may eventually lose their battle against the fence, but they plan to keep fighting. State officials, including Republican Gov. Rick Perry, also oppose plans to build the fence.

On Tuesday, Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Laredo who is opposed to the fence, said Homeland Security authorities told him the payment plan was off. He did not elaborate.

It was not clear what prompted the change of heart. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Brad Benson did not return several phone calls from The Associated Press.

Ahumada said the issue was also a matter of historical and patriotic pride.

"You are talking about land that Texans and Americans shed blood for to keep," he said. "And now they are trying to move the border further north than established by treaty."

[mattcbsmatt]

President Bush is a RELENTLESS Butt licker of Mexico. For some stinky reason : ) and so our US Mexico border states representatives.

[speakinup]

"do you not want your 72 virgins...???

hahaha Posted by rerrorislam3

"No I think he''d pass...''cause you''d be one of them!
Posted by ozilot

Dang, rerrorislam3!!! I believe you may be the solution to terrorism if we listen to ozilot! rdrr!

[slim1h2o]

Posted by gunowner407 at 09:31 AM : Oct 26, 2007

These people will have more pesos, than dollars in their future, without fence in place. If you know what I mean.

[riggie3]

My friend owns one of these stretches of land. He bought it for hunting. He tells me he can''t bring his daughter on the land, because they are constantly being invaded by illegals. He says they litter and defecate all over the land. It''s a health hazard, yet they continue to use his property because there is a small town where they stop further up, where they are welcome, and people profit off of the illegals going thru that town.

[gunowner407]

This is the classic example of greed being chosen over patriotism. The people who oppose the fence are moer concerned about the pesos than their future.

[aldee41]

Ah, yes, the border problem. One solution does not fit all. California needs more fences. Texas needs more bridges.
The next President will be a Democrat.
Chose wisely. Chose Richardson.

[rudy654-2009]

Many of the drug cartels are purchasing land on both sides of the border to simplify their smuggling of drugs and criminal immigrants. Many of those opposing giving the feds access here know that.
Posted by billy1745 at 01:40 AM

Got proof?

[billy1745-2009]

Many of the drug cartels are purchasing land on both sides of the border to simplify their smuggling of drugs and criminal immigrants. Many of those opposing giving the feds access here know that.

[rerrorislam3]

terrorislam3 bring it! on try to destroy MOSQUES in the usa. try it SCHMUCK!!!
Posted by sunsetbillyb at 07:01 PM : Oct 25, 2007

please tell me,,, what was muhammad''''s religion before he tried to convert to judaism???

and it was non muslims that destroyed iraq and afghanistan and before that the ottoman empire haji,,,

why have you not become a suicide murderer coward??? do you not want your 72 virgin pigs???

hahaha

[brittanicus-2009]

Must be getting paid off by the drug cartels or the people smugglers for safe passage across their land? How come the Federal government cannot take a small peice of land by "Eminent Domain?" Make me wonder if the bureaucrats have any real intention to build the barrier, or have they also been influenced by the globalists or open-border zealots?