04.28.16

Hearing Wrap-up: Public Lands Along the U.S.-Mexico Border

Hearing Overview

The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held an oversight hearing today on public lands along the U.S.-Mexico border. Committee Republicans used the hearing as an opportunity to undermine the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) federal land management practices by claiming it hinders the ability of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to maintain adequate security at the U.S. border. Both CBP and DOI have disputed these claims.

 

Witnesses

  • Jon Andrew, Interagency Borderlands Coordinator, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C.
  • Sue Chilton, Rancher, Chilton Ranch, Arivaca, AZ
  • Tricia Elbrock, Co-owner at Elbrock Water Systems, Animas, NM
  • Lee Pinkerton, Commissioner, Boundary County, ID
  • Nan Walden, J.D., Vice President and Counsel for Farmers Investment Company and Green Valley Pecan Company, Sahuarita, AZ

Key Takeaways

  • The existing barrier at the southern border has done little to deter crossings, but has caused major environmental, social and economic damage to American border communities. A wall along the entire southern border would only magnify the harm to American communities while doing nothing to deter unauthorized border crossings.
    • Border fences bisect the natural range of a variety of animal species, interrupting migration patterns and restricting animals’ access to water sources.
    • Border fences alter natural flows of valuable runoff water, causing flooding in some areas, depriving other areas of water, and fundamentally altering critical habitat.
    • The U.S.-Mexico border is also home to many Native American communities and may include ancestral lands which are vulnerable to damage by the fence.
  • Some members of the majority have proposed or supported building a concrete wall across the entire U.S.-Mexico border. Doing so would not only exacerbate the impact of the environmental, economic, and social consequences, but the cost of the wall to U.S. taxpayers would be prohibitive. It’s estimated that the cost of a concrete wall would be $25 billion, not including the massive expense of maintaining the wall over time. The Congressional Research Service has estimated that the existing wall that covers 1/3 of the border costs $47 million.

Background

  • The U.S.-Mexico border spans 1,933 miles along the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Approximately 650 miles (34%) of the border is within federally owned or Native American lands.
  • Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) introduced the Border Security and Accountability Act of 2015, which would establish a border security strategy that is both accountable and respectful of the unique needs and rights of border communities, wildlife, and federal lands. In addition, the legislation seeks to eliminate the DHS Secretary’s unprecedented authority to waive all laws for the purpose of constructing roads and barriers. A fact sheet outlining the primary provisions is available here.

 

Key Quotes

Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Ranking Member Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.):

  • “In communities along the border, the economic damage of the fence has also been substantial. In these communities, frequent crossing of the border is a way of life; residents may live on one side of the border, while working, shopping, or eating out on the other. The fence literally splits these residents’ lives in two and disconnects them from family and friends. Business owners have also suffered as long wait-times at designated ports of entry deter visitors. Private land owners have been forced to allow the fence to be built on their property with little compensation, drastically reducing their property’s value and appeal.”
  • “Both Customs and Border Protection and the Department of the Interior understand that protecting the border, our wildlife, and our communities can be done in unison, but they must be done thoughtfully. Bypassing important laws and protections is both unnecessary and unhelpful.”

 

Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.):

  • “Some of my colleagues seem to envision a border region populated entirely by murderers and drug traffickers who must be kept out of the United States at all costs. But that’s not the real world.”
  • “Fear-mongering rhetoric and political posturing only serve to sow fear and division. They further the marginalization, exploitation and vilification of the U.S.-Mexico border region, as well as the people who live and work there.” 
  • “Our shared goals of protecting endangered species, building a resilient border economy and securing the border are not mutually exclusive. In fact, border security is at its best when it’s built on a healthy economy and a healthy environment.” 

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.):

  • “I’m a little puzzled by this gathering. This is supposed to be a hearing about public lands at the border, but one of the witnesses barely mentions public lands and their testimony is mostly about other problems with border management… Half the testimony of the third witness has nothing to do with being close to the border, but just talks about how we should be cutting down our national forests, so it does make me wonder what is the agenda here?”
  • I’ve read that constructing a wall could cost upwards of $25 billion. Since some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle can’t seem to find the money to help ease some of the humanitarian crisis’ we’re fighting now - for example for our people in Puerto Rico, the $1.9 billion needed to help fight the Zika virus, which is a serious problem that’s coming over the border, and can’t pass a budget even when the topline budget number was already set last year – I’m going to guess they’d have a hard time finding $25 billion for a 2,000 mile wall.”

Press Contact

Media Contact: Diane Padilla

(202) 225-6065 or (202) 226-3522