Comments on: Birding and the Border Patrol – a Rio Grande encounter http://eatmorecookies.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/birding-and-the-border-patrol-a-rio-grande-encounter/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:49:25 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: S Nicol http://eatmorecookies.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/birding-and-the-border-patrol-a-rio-grande-encounter/#comment-867 S Nicol Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:14:55 +0000 http://eatmorecookies.wordpress.com/?p=404#comment-867 In general, the Border Patrol officers that actually go out on patrol (as opposed to defending desks in DC) are locals who need the work. The border in south Texas has twice the rate of poverty as the rest of Texas, so good paying jobs are hard to come by. Unfortunately, they are not allowed to speak their minds about the wall. Just like the dedicated US Fish and Wildlife employees who work to maintain our refuges, they are afraid for their jobs. It is shameful to think that those who live and work along the border, and would be able to provide meaningful insight, in essence lose their right to freedom of speech (at least on this one issue), but it is currently the case. One fundamental problem with the border wall that is currently under construction in California and Arizona and will break ground (literally) in Texas in the next month or so is the fact that DHS does not have to obey any of our nation's environmental laws. Section 102 of the Real ID Act says, “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall have the authority to waive all legal requirements such Secretary, in such Secretary’s sole discretion, determines necessary to ensure expeditious construction of the barriers and roads under this section.” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff has already waived as many as 19 federal laws, including the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act, to build walls in California and Arizona. With endangered ocelot and migratory birds in south Texas' refuges he is almost certain to write a Real ID waiver for Texas. The Defenders of Wildlife and Sierra Club have petitioned the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of Chertoff's power, but if the court eventually takes up the case it may be too late for the Lower Rio Grande Valley. In general, the Border Patrol officers that actually go out on patrol (as opposed to defending desks in DC) are locals who need the work. The border in south Texas has twice the rate of poverty as the rest of Texas, so good paying jobs are hard to come by. Unfortunately, they are not allowed to speak their minds about the wall. Just like the dedicated US Fish and Wildlife employees who work to maintain our refuges, they are afraid for their jobs. It is shameful to think that those who live and work along the border, and would be able to provide meaningful insight, in essence lose their right to freedom of speech (at least on this one issue), but it is currently the case.

One fundamental problem with the border wall that is currently under construction in California and Arizona and will break ground (literally) in Texas in the next month or so is the fact that DHS does not have to obey any of our nation’s environmental laws. Section 102 of the Real ID Act says, “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall have the authority to waive all legal requirements such Secretary, in such Secretary’s sole discretion, determines necessary to ensure expeditious construction of the barriers and roads under this section.” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff has already waived as many as 19 federal laws, including the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act, to build walls in California and Arizona. With endangered ocelot and migratory birds in south Texas’ refuges he is almost certain to write a Real ID waiver for Texas. The Defenders of Wildlife and Sierra Club have petitioned the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of Chertoff’s power, but if the court eventually takes up the case it may be too late for the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

]]> By: TR http://eatmorecookies.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/birding-and-the-border-patrol-a-rio-grande-encounter/#comment-839 TR Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:30:25 +0000 http://eatmorecookies.wordpress.com/?p=404#comment-839 I have run into the border patrol numerous times birding in San Diego in and around the Cleveland National Forest off I-8. They must get quite a few birders cause they never bat an eyelid when we tell them what we're doing. And in all the situations I've run into they have been very courteous. I have run into the border patrol numerous times birding in San Diego in and around the Cleveland National Forest off I-8. They must get quite a few birders cause they never bat an eyelid when we tell them what we’re doing. And in all the situations I’ve run into they have been very courteous.

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