Task force seeks alternative to border fence

State Rep. Rene Oliveira was born and raised in Brownsville, and never in his life did he think there would be a need to build a wall between the United States and Mexico.

“Everyone in government until 9/11 was negligent about border security,” said the Brownsville Democrat, who describes the controversial wall as a divisive symbol. “I resent the political manipulation and sometimes racist opinions of some people who claim to be concerned about our border security.”

This week, Oliveira will be among a number of Texas lawmakers taking in the Task Force on Border Security of the Mexican-American Legislative Caucus.

“I wanted the (task force) to be in Cameron County because we are in a most unique situation,” said Oliveira. “We are the only place where you can cross by plane, by boat, and land to enter our country.”

He said lawmakers will hear from county judges, more than half a dozen police chiefs from across the Rio Grande Valley, the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety and others on what can be done to secure our borders. The Department of Homeland Security has said it wants to have more than 150 miles of the border wall built by the end of 2008.

Oliveira said that while border security is crucial, the country must move away from building the wall and instead talk about what is happening on the other side of the border.

“We get too wrapped up on the wall and miss what is happening ... the human trafficking, the drug smuggling,” said Oliveira. “If we don’t do something drastic now about what is happening in Nuevo Leon, Reynosa and throughout Tamaulipas, then the problem is going to come to Matamoros and all the border cities. … It will be coming to Cameron County.”

He said it has taken time, but finally he and other lawmakers along the Rio Grande have convinced lawmakers elsewhere that the drug problem doesn’t stop at the river.

“We are finally convincing them that drugs shipped from the Valley and Nuevo Leon do not stop in the Valley,” said Oliveira. “Those same drugs are then being shipped to West Texas, Central Texas. It is a Texas-size problem.”

State Rep. Juan M. Escobar, D-Kingsville, is a retired Border Patrol agent and federal organized task force agent.

“South Texans want to be able to feel safe, and not worry about the narco-wars that are subjecting our communities to kidnappings, killings and drug trafficking that is ruing the lives of our young people.

“I have lived on the border all my life, I have worked on the border all my life, and I’m telling you we’ve got big problems,” Escobar said.

Oliveira admits illegal immigration and drug smuggling are equally important, “but our role is limited by the exclusivity of the federal government to fight immigration.”

“But immigrants are not the terrorists. They are saving the economy in Texas and the United States.”

Today, some of the lawmakers will take a tour of the Veterans International Bridge and the Port of Brownsville, “to see the vulnerability, so they can see and understand our safety concerns.”

He said it will also allow them to see the volume of trade coming across the Texas-Mexico border and how the current border security system works.

“We want the other lawmakers to have a greater understanding of our area, our people and our economy,” Oliveira said.

BREAKOUT

What: Task Force on Border Security of the Mexican-American Legislative Caucus

Where: UTB-TSC Education and Business Complex, Cassia Salon Room 2.4022

When: 9 a.m. Tuesday

Among those scheduled to speak:

-Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos

-Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino

-McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez

-Brownsville Police Chief Carlos Garcia

Roma Police Chief Jose Garcia

Willacy County Sheriff Larry Spence

BREAKOUT