Valley leaders speak out against border fence

MCALLEN — Community leaders attacked the proposed border fence set to be built in the Rio Grande Valley on humanitarian, economic, environmental and even religious grounds at a panel discussion Thursday night, arguing the plan is not a realistic way to address immigration.

More than 100 people attended the forum, which was at the Cine el Rey theater in downtown McAllen.

Though McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez emphasized the need for a “healthy debate” on the fence issue, all of the event’s panelists opposed the current plans for a fence. When a moderator asked audience members who supported the plans, just one of the audience members raised her hand.

Much of the criticism of the fence stemmed from its proposed placement within Texas borders and the belief that such a move would significantly disrupt Valley life.

Antonio Zavaleta, vice president for external affairs for University of Texas-Brownsville, said the proposed fence would go right through the school’s campus.

“That means half my university will be on the Mexican side of the fence,” Zavaleta said.

Panelists also criticized the rationale behind the fence, arguing that if it was really meant for security, then a similar fence would be built along America’s northern border as well.

“I question the veracity of the reason for the fence,” Cortez said.

Martin Hagne, executive director of the Valley Nature Center in Weslaco, said if the fence is constructed, it would be “the largest ecological disaster to happen to the Valley in my lifetime,” because many species unique to the region make their habitats in the area surrounding the Rio Grande. Disrupting those habitats would cause those animals to disappear — as well as the millions of dollars the region takes in from ecotourism, he said.

Sister Norma Pimentel of the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville said she opposes the fence because she believes it could wind up increasing the number of deaths of migrants crossing the border. She added that faith compels Catholics to “welcome the stranger among us as our neighbor.”

Event organizers said pro-fence groups such as the Texas Minutemen were invited to the panel discussion but couldn’t attend. In a statement, the Texas Minutemen said the fence is necessary for the protection of America’s borders and would help the United States maintain its sovereignty while protecting both American and Mexican lives.

Elizabeth Barrera of Sharyland was the lone audience member who said she supported the fence plans.

“I think if it will even deter a little … it’ll help,” Barrera said, asserting that immigrants’ use of subsidies such as food stamps drain the country’s resources, and the government has a duty to take care of its own.