KRGV news
January 25, 2010
by Christina Rendon
BROWNSVILLE - Ernesto De Leon's family has owned land south of town for generations. They've allowed a Fermin Leal to use the land grow crops on it since the 1970's.
Leal says recent work on the border wall has cut off access to the land.
"We don't have access to our property without going through someone else's property," says Leal.
Leal tells CHANNEL 5 NEWS up until a few weeks ago, there was a gap they used to access the land, but the government has now closed that gap.
Ernesto De Leon says he didn't fight the government when they initially built the wall, giving it away on the condition crews built a 40 foot gate on his property.
"We had four or five different properties we had to sign up for that fence to go through," says De Leon.
De Leon says he plans to fight for the fence he was promised, even if he has to take it to court.
http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/Landowner-Says-The-Border-Wall-Has-Cut-Off-Access/VNLpNmWYsE2n0K-3VayVZQ.cspx
Showing posts with label Troiani. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Troiani. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Texas woman's home sits between new border wall, Mexico
KENS TV
November 30, 2009
by Brian New
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - The border wall has a Texas woman feeling left out and unprotected.
For the past 11 months, crews have been busy along the Rio Grande River constructing the border wall.
The federal government said the $49-billion project is working. Fewer illegal immigrants are sneaking across, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said residents of Texas' border cities are now safer.
However, Brownsville resident Pamela Taylor said the wall has actually made her less safe.
"I'm outside of the wall,” said 81 year-old Taylor. “I'm on what we refer to as the Mexican side."
Taylor said she assumed the border wall would be built along the Rio Grande River, the border of Texas, but the government said because of environmental reasons and expense much of wall is not being built on the actual border.
"It doesn't make sense," Taylor said.
The section of the wall near Taylor’s home in Brownsville is nearly a mile away from the border, trapping her between Mexico and the wall.
"We feel like we've been forgotten," Taylor said. “My son-in-law asked them, 'How are we going to get out?' and they said, 'We hadn't even thought of anyone getting out.'"
The U.S. Border Patrol said getting out will not be a problem because at the top of Taylor's street is a hole in the fence. Along the Texas border there are hundreds of holes, but the government said there are no gaps in security.
The U.S. Border Patrol said the wall alone was never intended to keep people out; rather, the wall is in place to divert illegal immigrants away from neighborhoods and into the gaps where Border Patrol agents will be waiting
"We want to utilize this as a tool," said U.S. Border Patrol agent John Lopez. "It's a matter of protecting this community and the country.”
"Well, he is not protecting me," Taylor said.
Taylor said this diversion strategy has put her in the crossfire.
"We are the funnel," she said. "We don't want to kill anybody. We don't want to harm anybody, but we do have to protect ourselves."
Even before the wall, Taylor has had encounters with illegal immigrants on her land and in her home.
"I saw this person standing in my living room and then he would go and sit down and rock for awhile," she said. "I was so angry that someone had come into my home that I just came in … I was going to barrette this person."
But before she could say a word, the man took off, she said.
The U.S. Border Patrol said it has increased patrol on Taylor's street. It also monitors hundreds of cameras along the border around the clock.
"There is always going to be opposition, but our goal here to protect our country by keeping it safe," Lopez said.
It's a goal the government continues to build towards even as some point out its holes.
November 30, 2009
by Brian New
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - The border wall has a Texas woman feeling left out and unprotected.
For the past 11 months, crews have been busy along the Rio Grande River constructing the border wall.
The federal government said the $49-billion project is working. Fewer illegal immigrants are sneaking across, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said residents of Texas' border cities are now safer.
However, Brownsville resident Pamela Taylor said the wall has actually made her less safe.
"I'm outside of the wall,” said 81 year-old Taylor. “I'm on what we refer to as the Mexican side."
Taylor said she assumed the border wall would be built along the Rio Grande River, the border of Texas, but the government said because of environmental reasons and expense much of wall is not being built on the actual border.
"It doesn't make sense," Taylor said.
The section of the wall near Taylor’s home in Brownsville is nearly a mile away from the border, trapping her between Mexico and the wall.
"We feel like we've been forgotten," Taylor said. “My son-in-law asked them, 'How are we going to get out?' and they said, 'We hadn't even thought of anyone getting out.'"
The U.S. Border Patrol said getting out will not be a problem because at the top of Taylor's street is a hole in the fence. Along the Texas border there are hundreds of holes, but the government said there are no gaps in security.
The U.S. Border Patrol said the wall alone was never intended to keep people out; rather, the wall is in place to divert illegal immigrants away from neighborhoods and into the gaps where Border Patrol agents will be waiting
"We want to utilize this as a tool," said U.S. Border Patrol agent John Lopez. "It's a matter of protecting this community and the country.”
"Well, he is not protecting me," Taylor said.
Taylor said this diversion strategy has put her in the crossfire.
"We are the funnel," she said. "We don't want to kill anybody. We don't want to harm anybody, but we do have to protect ourselves."
Even before the wall, Taylor has had encounters with illegal immigrants on her land and in her home.
"I saw this person standing in my living room and then he would go and sit down and rock for awhile," she said. "I was so angry that someone had come into my home that I just came in … I was going to barrette this person."
But before she could say a word, the man took off, she said.
The U.S. Border Patrol said it has increased patrol on Taylor's street. It also monitors hundreds of cameras along the border around the clock.
"There is always going to be opposition, but our goal here to protect our country by keeping it safe," Lopez said.
It's a goal the government continues to build towards even as some point out its holes.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
City Commission OKs border fence accord
Brownsville Herald
June 2, 2009
by Emma Perez-Trevino
June 2, 2009
by Emma Perez-Trevino
Between a rock and a hard place - that's how the City Commission found itself Tuesday regarding the border fence between Brownsville and Matamoros that will be constructed.
There were two immediate options: either approve an agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as majority members on the commission advanced or fight to the end as the mayor urged.
Majority commissioners Leo Garza, Ricardo Longoria, Edward C. Camarillo and Anthony P. Troiani prevailed, approving the agreement.
Mayor Pat M. Ahumada Jr. and Commissioner Carlos A. Cisneros voted against the agreement. Commissioner Charlie Atkinson abstained.
The majority argued that the agreement allowing DHS the right of possession to 15.919 acres of city land, which DHS already has title to, provides the city with the ability to one day develop downtown and to complete the project called the East Loop, which would tie south Brownsville to the Port of Brownsville.
The agreement provides that DHS will build what the parties call "temporary" fence segments on the East Loop levee and between the Gateway International Bridge and the B&M International Bridge.
The temporary fence segments would be removed when the city constructs in their place a replacement barrier and relocates the East Loop levee. The relocation of the levee already is a component of the East Loop project.
Ahumada contended that the cost of the replacement levee and barrier is not even known, but predicted that the cost would be prohibitive. "I think the temporary wall is going to be a permanent wall," the mayor said.
"I believe we should fight DHS on the right of possession and hopefully come out with something better than what is being proposed," Ahumada said.
Troiani, through questions posed to counsel Charlie Willette, contended that DHS already has title to the property and that not entering into an agreement placed the city in the position that it could never recoup any of the land required to continue with its economic development plans.
Troiani's comments, however, also showed that he is very concerned that the agreement might not be included in the federal court's order granting DHS possession of the property.
Willette hinted that it might not be possible and that if there were any disputes in the future, these might have to be resolved in a court of claims rather than in federal district court. Willette predicted that DHS would probably object to attaching the agreement to the order of possession, but said that he would try to convince the federal court, where condemnation proceedings are under way, to allow this.
Troiani wanted the attachment of the agreement to be a condition of the agreement but Garza said it would be too risky.
Asked by Ahumada if he (Willette) trusts the federal government to keep its word, Willette summed it up: "I don't think we have a lot of choice."
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/agreement-98637-city-commission.htmlBorder fence to get green light
Brownsville Herald
June 1, 2009
by Emma Perez-Trevino
The City Commission today is poised to approve an agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, allowing the construction of the border fence between Brownsville and Matamoros.
The proposal also contains provisions that the city's land would revert to the city upon construction of replacement barriers and a new levee.
But the vote is not expected to be unanimous as Mayor Pat M. Ahumada Jr. continues to voice opposition to the "shameful" fence.
Ahumada instead proposes the Brownsville-Matamoros dam project, which he calls a virtual fence, as an alternative.
Ahumada has scheduled a 2 p.m. press conference for today to discuss the proposal with DHS.
The commission will consider the agreement at its regular meeting a few hours later, starting at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 1001 E. Elizabeth St.
The proposed agreement comes on the heels of DHS' action in May in federal court to take possession of 15.919 acres of city land while negotiations with the city were ongoing.
The proposed temporary border fence would be built on the East Loop levee and between the Gateway International Bridge and the B&M International Bridge.
In a statement issued Friday, City Manager Charlie Cabler said that he, members of his staff and DHS had reached an agreement, subject to the commission's approval.
Cabler said that reversion of the properties to the city would allow the city to complete the East Loop, which will carry heavy truck traffic from the international bridges to the Port of Brownsville. He said the land also is vital to the contemplated development of the historic downtown area.
Under the proposal, the city would be responsible for designing and constructing the replacement levee and barriers. The temporary fencing would be removed by DHS if funding were available.
Ahumada has urged opponents to the fence to again petition the commission not to enter into any agreement with DHS.
Prior to the regular meeting, the commission will hold a workshop at 5:15 p.m. and an executive session at 5:30 p.m.
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/city-98608-fence-border.html
June 1, 2009
by Emma Perez-Trevino
The City Commission today is poised to approve an agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, allowing the construction of the border fence between Brownsville and Matamoros.
The proposal also contains provisions that the city's land would revert to the city upon construction of replacement barriers and a new levee.
But the vote is not expected to be unanimous as Mayor Pat M. Ahumada Jr. continues to voice opposition to the "shameful" fence.
Ahumada instead proposes the Brownsville-Matamoros dam project, which he calls a virtual fence, as an alternative.
Ahumada has scheduled a 2 p.m. press conference for today to discuss the proposal with DHS.
The commission will consider the agreement at its regular meeting a few hours later, starting at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 1001 E. Elizabeth St.
The proposed agreement comes on the heels of DHS' action in May in federal court to take possession of 15.919 acres of city land while negotiations with the city were ongoing.
The proposed temporary border fence would be built on the East Loop levee and between the Gateway International Bridge and the B&M International Bridge.
In a statement issued Friday, City Manager Charlie Cabler said that he, members of his staff and DHS had reached an agreement, subject to the commission's approval.
Cabler said that reversion of the properties to the city would allow the city to complete the East Loop, which will carry heavy truck traffic from the international bridges to the Port of Brownsville. He said the land also is vital to the contemplated development of the historic downtown area.
Under the proposal, the city would be responsible for designing and constructing the replacement levee and barriers. The temporary fencing would be removed by DHS if funding were available.
Ahumada has urged opponents to the fence to again petition the commission not to enter into any agreement with DHS.
Prior to the regular meeting, the commission will hold a workshop at 5:15 p.m. and an executive session at 5:30 p.m.
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/city-98608-fence-border.html
Monday, May 18, 2009
Ortiz opposes seizing city land for border fence
Brownsville Herald
May 17, 2009
by Emma Perez-Trevino
May 17, 2009
by Emma Perez-Trevino
As the U.S. Department of Homeland Security moved to take possession of city property for a border fence between Brownsville and Matamoros, U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz expressed his displeasure.
"I am not pleased," Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, said of DHS' move amid negotiations with the city on a proposed levee-temporary fence alternative. Ortiz's spokesman Jose Borjon said Friday that the congressman had asked DHS not to begin proceedings to take possession of city land.
The Brownsville Herald also learned that Ortiz is attempting to obtain funding for the levee-temporary fence alternative.
This comes on the heels of DHS' trip to the federal courthouse May 12 to file the motion to take possession of 15.919 acres of city land, although DHS officials say talks with city officials continue in an effort to reach an agreement on a temporary fence.
Under the proposed agreement, DHS would build temporary fences on the East Loop levee and between the Gateway International Bridge and the B&M Bridge. Control of the property would revert to the city when the city provides replacement barriers, including construction of a new levee.
The temporary fence would be removed by DHS if there is funding. If there were no federal funding, its removal would be the city's responsibility. The city also would bear the cost of the replacement barriers.
"But at what cost to the city?" Mayor Pat M. Ahumada Jr., who favors developing a dam as a natural barrier, said of the proposed agreement on the table.
The mayor said the cost to the city could be as much as $13 million and that the city does not have the money.
Ahumada said that instead of fighting among themselves, city officials should have been using the time to strategize in opposition to the border fence.
Ahumada also said that Ortiz had initially supported the weir project as a barrier and wondered why the congressman is now supporting a temporary fence. Borjon said that Ortiz continues to support the weir project, but not as an alternative to the fence.
Regarding the motion for possession that DHS filed, Ahumada said, "What do we do now? What I've said all along; we should be looking for a third party to mediate and that is U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen."
The federal case is before Hanen's court.
DHS' motion is slated to be on Hanen's court docket June 1.
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/city-98127-fence-ortiz.htmlTuesday, February 10, 2009
New Brownsville-DHS contract no different than the last one, border wall critics claim
February 10, 2009
Rio Grande Guardian
by Steve Taylor and Joey Gomez
AUSTIN, February 10 - The No Border Wall coalition has obtained a copy of the contract that Brownsville City Commission will consider entering into with the Department of Homeland Security to develop a border fence.
City commissioners will consider signing the contract at a meeting at city hall on Thursday evening.
“It is almost word for word identical to the one that was tabled last July in response to a very vocal outcry from Brownsville residents. It even contains the clause allowing DHS to condemn Brownsville's land, and forcing Brownsville to cooperate with the condemnation,” said No Border Wall spokesman Scott Nicol.
The only difference, Nicol said, is that the value of the land has changed, rising from $93,500 to $95,800.
“Of course, the city will not receive a penny for that land. Instead, they will get to remove the ‘floating fence’ if they first build a levee-border wall ‘at no cost to the United States of America, Department of Homeland Security or its successor agency’.”
Nicol pointed out that the levee-border wall in Hidalgo County cost $10 million to $12 million per mile.
“It seems unlikely that Brownsville will find the funds any time soon, so the wall will in fact be as permanent as that built anywhere else along the border,” Nicol said.
The No Border Wall coalition and the church-based Coalition of Amigos in Solidarity and Action (CASA) are leading the opposition to the contract being signed.
Elizabeth Garcia, founder of CASA, Garcia pointed out that Brownsville residents have forced the City to stop negotiations with DHS in the past.
“Last summer, the Brownsville City Commission considered a contract, drafted by the Army Corps of Engineers that would have turned over $93,500 worth of municipal property to build the wall,” Garcia said.
“One clause of the contract would have allowed the federal government to condemn the city’s property, and force the City to assist the government in the condemnation rather than fight to keep their property. When word of the contract was leaked, outraged Brownsville residents packed the city commission meeting, forcing them to table the deal.”
Garcia said the citizenry of Brownsville can have the same success they had last July.
“These are our elected officials, and they should be representing the concerns of their constituents,” Garcia said. “This community is still overwhelmingly opposed to the border wall, and our city government should support that sentiment.”
Garcia said that if the City wants to “compromise” with DHS, it should do so in federal court, just like the University of Texas at Brownsville and dozens of landowners have done.
“We hope that, just as UTB did, our commissioners will fight before they compromise. It will be wrong for them to reach a deal behind closed doors, without informing the public and without giving the community at large the opportunity for some input,” Garcia said.
Brownsville Mayor Pat Ahumada is opposed to the deal with DHS but it appears a majority of the commission now backs it.
“Basically, they (DHS) laid it on the line. Either we put up a permanent fence or you come up with another option,” Brownsville Mayor Pro Tem Charlie Atkinson told the Guardian last week.
Atkinson said he and other city commissioners had no alternative but to come up with another option.
“We are trying to build our East Loop that goes from Veterans Bridge to the Port of Brownsville to get the trucks out of the inner city. They (DHS) have conceded to us that we can have a temporary fence. They (DHS) said once you have built the East Loop you can take it (the border fence) out. They will put that in writing to us.”
The alternative, Atkinson said, was stark. “DHS builds a permanent fence and they take the land. Those are the only two options we have.”
Atkinson said he “appreciates” the concerns of Brownsville residents opposed to the border fence.
“Nobody wants a fence in Brownsville. Nobody does. But when the federal government has you the way they have you, you have got to work with what you have. That’s what we are trying to do,” Atkinson said.
http://www.riograndeguardian.com/rggnews_story.asp?story_no=19
Rio Grande Guardian
by Steve Taylor and Joey Gomez
AUSTIN, February 10 - The No Border Wall coalition has obtained a copy of the contract that Brownsville City Commission will consider entering into with the Department of Homeland Security to develop a border fence.
City commissioners will consider signing the contract at a meeting at city hall on Thursday evening.
“It is almost word for word identical to the one that was tabled last July in response to a very vocal outcry from Brownsville residents. It even contains the clause allowing DHS to condemn Brownsville's land, and forcing Brownsville to cooperate with the condemnation,” said No Border Wall spokesman Scott Nicol.
The only difference, Nicol said, is that the value of the land has changed, rising from $93,500 to $95,800.
“Of course, the city will not receive a penny for that land. Instead, they will get to remove the ‘floating fence’ if they first build a levee-border wall ‘at no cost to the United States of America, Department of Homeland Security or its successor agency’.”
Nicol pointed out that the levee-border wall in Hidalgo County cost $10 million to $12 million per mile.
“It seems unlikely that Brownsville will find the funds any time soon, so the wall will in fact be as permanent as that built anywhere else along the border,” Nicol said.
The No Border Wall coalition and the church-based Coalition of Amigos in Solidarity and Action (CASA) are leading the opposition to the contract being signed.
Elizabeth Garcia, founder of CASA, Garcia pointed out that Brownsville residents have forced the City to stop negotiations with DHS in the past.
“Last summer, the Brownsville City Commission considered a contract, drafted by the Army Corps of Engineers that would have turned over $93,500 worth of municipal property to build the wall,” Garcia said.
“One clause of the contract would have allowed the federal government to condemn the city’s property, and force the City to assist the government in the condemnation rather than fight to keep their property. When word of the contract was leaked, outraged Brownsville residents packed the city commission meeting, forcing them to table the deal.”
Garcia said the citizenry of Brownsville can have the same success they had last July.
“These are our elected officials, and they should be representing the concerns of their constituents,” Garcia said. “This community is still overwhelmingly opposed to the border wall, and our city government should support that sentiment.”
Garcia said that if the City wants to “compromise” with DHS, it should do so in federal court, just like the University of Texas at Brownsville and dozens of landowners have done.
“We hope that, just as UTB did, our commissioners will fight before they compromise. It will be wrong for them to reach a deal behind closed doors, without informing the public and without giving the community at large the opportunity for some input,” Garcia said.
Brownsville Mayor Pat Ahumada is opposed to the deal with DHS but it appears a majority of the commission now backs it.
“Basically, they (DHS) laid it on the line. Either we put up a permanent fence or you come up with another option,” Brownsville Mayor Pro Tem Charlie Atkinson told the Guardian last week.
Atkinson said he and other city commissioners had no alternative but to come up with another option.
“We are trying to build our East Loop that goes from Veterans Bridge to the Port of Brownsville to get the trucks out of the inner city. They (DHS) have conceded to us that we can have a temporary fence. They (DHS) said once you have built the East Loop you can take it (the border fence) out. They will put that in writing to us.”
The alternative, Atkinson said, was stark. “DHS builds a permanent fence and they take the land. Those are the only two options we have.”
Atkinson said he “appreciates” the concerns of Brownsville residents opposed to the border fence.
“Nobody wants a fence in Brownsville. Nobody does. But when the federal government has you the way they have you, you have got to work with what you have. That’s what we are trying to do,” Atkinson said.
http://www.riograndeguardian.com/rggnews_story.asp?story_no=19
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)