Clinton speaks out on border fence's shadow over Charro Days

Sen. Hillary Clinton on Monday released a statement, in response to a Brownsville Herald article published Sunday.

The article, by Herald reporter Laura Tillman, quotes Charro Days organizers who believe a border fence would "hurt" the 71-year-old festival and the centuries-old ties between the sister cities, Brownsville and Matamoros.

The Clinton campaign released the below statement, "following a Brownsville Herald article about the potential cultural and economic impacts of the border wall as currently mapped out," an e-mailed statement from Clinton's publicists reads.

"It is troubling to me that our country's current border security plan threatens a South Texas tradition historically created to celebrate the sharing of cultures. As I discussed during the debate at the University of Texas at Austin last Thursday, I believe we need to re-evaluate the border wall as it is currently being implemented. The Bush Administration has been irresponsible and inaccurate in its construction of the wall, sacrificing our communities for a security measure that has been ineffectively executed.

"But ultimately, I believe we need comprehensive immigration reform that respects the rule of law, our immigrant heritage, and our American values. Securing our borders must be a top priority and a major component of any comprehensive immigration reform proposal. That is why I supported enhanced border security as part of a comprehensive approach. But I do not believe that a fence alone will solve our immigration crisis. We need to do a lot more.

"The notion that the University of Texas at Brownsville campus -- as well as businesses, homes, and families -- would be divided by the wall as it is currently mapped out doesn't make sense. I support using technology and border control personnel wherever we can. In areas where this is not a practical approach, a border wall can be appropriate, but only after thorough consideration of its impact on the communities that would potentially be affected. As president, I will call for environmental, economic, and social impact reports and ensure that any border security plan respects the welfare of South Texas' and America's communities."

Clinton visited UTB-TSC on Wednesday and her daughter, Chelsea, was on the campus Saturday, less than a mile from where the fence will stand.

Clinton, and opponent Sen. Barack Obama, both voted for the Secure Fence Act of 2006, which allows for creation of the fence. During this campaign, however, they say it wasn't their intention to approve the Bush Administration's interpretation of this law to build a fence through this community.

For more on this story, see Tuesday's Brownsville Herald.