Janice Langlinais, Account Dir

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007
Great Outdoor
Nature Series 2007-2008

This year the McAllen Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with Quinta Mazatlan to bring you the 2007-2008 McAllen Great Outdoor Nature Series from October through March. The Great Outdoor Nature Series features speakers from nature photography to birding and butterflies. All events will be held at Quinta Mazatlan at 6pm on Thursdays. Attendance fee is $3. For more information or a schedule of events, visit www.quintamazatlan.com or call 956-688-3370.

nmillar@mcallencvb.com

www.mcallencvb.com

This legislation could have such an important impact on us here along the border. Virtually to a person, people who actually live along the border and deal with Mexico every day are vehemently opposed to the wall for many reasons: no one believes it will work; it will seriously disrupt the precious habitat and therefore our nature tourism which brings in an estimated $125 to $150 million per year; it is rude and extremely offensive to our Mexican neighbors, upon whom we depend for 30% of our thriving economy and to whom the majority of local residents are related. That’s just a start! Please read this release relating to the impact of possible legislation related to borders and nature

For immediate release
For more information contact
Steve Ahlenius, 956-682-2871

Border Cities Unite For Border Security and Against Proposed Wall

MCALLEN, TEXAS- Border cities in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, among the cities that would be most affected by the new immigration control legislation, are standing together in opposition to the wall project proposed by the federal government.

Border city governments and local organizations are organizing to fight legislation that would mandate a double walled fence with a road running between the two structures.

The newest release from the White House, quoting President Bush as being opposed to input from the people who would be hardest hit, has hit a real nerve.

“Virtually to a person, people who actually live along the border and deal with Mexico every day are vehemently opposed to the wall for many reasons,” said McAllen Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Steve Ahlenius. “And the fact that President Bush is refusing to listen to input from leaders in this region of his own state sounds ominously dictatorial. To a struggling community that has long been ignored by Washington, this is yet another slap in the face, and it’s the most vicious slap yet.”

“Very few people here believe a wall will work to keep out illegal immigrants,” Ahlenius continued. “Current walls in California and Arizona aren’t working. It’s illogical to think one would work here.” He cited the 46 tunnels that have been found by Border patrol under the 14 miles of California wall, and added, “If they build a 10 foot wall, someone will just build an 11 foot ladder. There are better ways”

“One of the most glaring issues with the mere idea of a wall is that it is extremely offensive to our Mexican neighbors, and smacks of racism,” he said. “The border area relies heavily on Mexican shoppers who are responsible for 35% of our economy. In addition, over half of our own residents are related to people in Mexico. Think about the message we’re sending to Mexico and really to all of South America- ‘We want your money, but we really don’t want you.’”

Local South Texas leaders also believe that it will seriously disrupt the habitat and therefore the nature tourism industry which brings in an estimated $125 to $150 million per year.

Ahlenius stressed that local leaders are in favor of border security, and agree with all aspects of proposals except for the wall.

“We believe there are much more effective ways to secure our border without negatively impacting the economy of millions of U.S. citizens, without offending the rest of the world, and without destroying a portion of our environment,” Ahlenius said. “If we were allowed to have input, to be represented in this decision, we could provide viable alternatives.

“The bottom line is that it’s a huge waste of government spending for something that won’t work and that actually will hurt us economically, not help.

“Our country would surely regret this wall for literally decades to come.”

Nancy S. Millar
Vice President and Director
McAllen Convention and Visitors' Bureau
McAllen Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 790
1200 Ash Avenue
McAllen, Texas 78505-0790
956-682-2871 x 3013 (voice)
1-877-MCALLEN (622-5536) (toll free)
956-631-8571 (fax)
nmillar@mcallencvb.com
www.mcallencvb.com

NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 7, 2007

Contact: Cat Lazaroff, Defenders of Wildlife (202) 772-0268

Congressman Raúl Grijalva Introduces Legislation That Secures America’s Border While Protecting Local Communities and Wildlife

Legislation Echoes Recommendations by Coalition of Concerned Military, Federal and Conservation Stakeholders

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) yesterday introduced a bill in the House of Representatives that would secure America’s border with Mexico while reducing the negative impact on local communities and resources, including national parks, wildlife refuges and monuments that are home to several critically endangered species. H.R.2593, the Borderlands Conservation and Security Act of 2007, would amend existing immigration and border security laws, including the recently-passed Secure Fence Act and REAL ID Act, to help alleviate the devastating impacts of undocumented immigration and border enforcement activities on public lands, wildlife and borderland communities.

“Congressman Grijalva’s bill brings some much needed common sense to immigration reform and border security,” said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife. “It strikes an appropriate balance between ensuring our borders are secure and conserving our treasured lands and wildlife.”

The goal of the bill is to ensure protections for wildlife, local communities and federally protected lands, including national treasures such as Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, while securing the border against undocumented immigrant traffic. In order to achieve this goal, the bill:

Provides the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with the ability to decide whether fences, vehicle barriers or virtual fences would be most effective in securing the border.

Gives land management agencies, Native American tribes and local communities a voice in border construction decisions.

Requires compliance with laws meant to protect the air, water, wildlife, culture and the health and safety of people in borderland communities.

Funds initiatives that help mitigate damage to borderland wildlife and resources.

Congressman Grijalva’s bill echoes the consensus recommendations for managing borderland resources recently made by a coalition of concerned groups, including military personnel, border agents, land managers and conservation groups. Those recommendations can be found at

http://www.defenders.org/border/arizona-stakeholder-recommendations.pdf.

NOTE: It is a large file and may take a moment to load.

Over a quarter of the U.S.-Mexico border lies within public lands on which a large number of imperiled species rely. The border patrol estimates that near the Arizona-Mexico border alone there are 39 species protected or proposed to be protected under the Endangered Species Act. However, according to the REAL ID Act passed by Congress in 2006, DHS is allowed to waive any and all federal, state and local laws to construct walls, roads and other barriers in the vicinity of the border. Congressman Grijalva’s bill limits this authority and requires that DHS consult with local officials and land mangers to determine the effect that a wall will have on the communities and wildlife in the area before constructing a fence and if necessary, allows for DHS to explore other options.

“National security comes first, but we can have security without destroying our valued lands and imperiled wildlife,” said Schlickeisen. “Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff has already twice waived important federal laws to begin building a wall. In one of these instances he also ignored recommendations by local experts in order to construct an unnecessary and environmentally devastating wall in the Barry M. Goldwater Range. In such remote areas, vehicle barriers and virtual fence technology can often be more effective than walls in securing the border, and they do so without damaging wildlife, communities and protected lands.”

The need for consultation requirements in Congressman Grijalva’s bill has been illustrated by recent events in Texas. DHS has released plans for extensive border wall construction in south Texas with little or no input from local communities or federal agencies, many of whom have said that a wall will negatively impact the economy and environment of the region.

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Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With more than 900,000 members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit www.defenders.org.