Residents protest border fence at DHS event

More than 100 protestors and supports of the proposed border fence turned out at the Brownsville Events Center Wednesday, making sure the Department of Homeland Security heard their voices.

Among the crowd were students from Letty Davila’s government class at St. Joseph Academy. They learned about the border fence and where it could be constructed from the government’s just-released draft Environmental Impact Statement.

“We learned it’s not a wall, it’s a fence,” Alejandro Zendejas, 16, said of the event.

He was among the 150 people who attended an open house to put their opinions in writing. About 75 of them protested outside the open house chanting, “no border wall.”

Since about 55 percent of St. Joseph students live in Matamoros, Davila said the issue is one the students wanted to learn more about since the construction of a fence could affect many of them.

“You are creating this hostility among them. They want to know why is the government doing this to them,” Davila said.

DHS plans to build a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border, with about 70 miles of it passing through the Rio Grande Valley.

The maps of the proposed fence show 17 miles of fencing going through the Brownsville area. Some of the fence will cut through local sanctuaries, the local college campus and the city owned properties and parks.

Valley officials have searched for alternatives to the border fence that they say would affect the economy and relations with Mexico.

Student Ramiro Martinez said he doesn’t believe fencing the border is going to work and is against it.

“It’s too much money for something that is not really worth having,” the 17 year-old said of the project, which is expected to cost several billion dollars.

Wednesday’s open house is one of three DHS is holding in the Valley. Another open house is set for today in Rio Grande City. An open house in McAllen was held on Tuesday.

As she talked to a U.S. Border Patrol agent, Harlingen area resident Yolanda Shoffeitt said she supported building the border fence. It is something she has also discussed with her friends who at times question her views.

“I am for it 100 percent. Is your life or your children or your family’s life worth (the cost of the fence),” she said. “Everyday you fear for your life. Our lives are not the same and will never be the same after 9/11.”

About 500 individuals attended the McAllen open house Tuesday, with the DHS receiving 156 comments, said U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Barry Morrissey. It was unknown how many were made at the Brownsville open house. Public comments will continue to be taken through Dec. 31.

Greg Gephardt, deputy program manager for CBP’s Secure Border Initiative and Tactical Infrastructure, said the government is still in the decision process. The DHS expects to have a final EIS statement available sometime in March.

Although Brownsville residents Ruth Wagner and Eugene Novogrodsky protested against the border fence, they have accepted the reality that it is going to be built — but they are not happy about it.

“I think it is one of the worst ideas that our government has ever come up with,” Wagner said. “This can really destroy agriculture in the Valley.”

“I’ve been doing this (protesting) for 45 years and I will do it until I die. I have no illusion that it changes anything and if anybody ever asks me, ‘What did you do?’ — I tried,” Novogrodsky said.