The U.S.-proposed border fence along the Mexican border is facing opposition not only from immigrant rights groups, but also from some environmental organizations. Claiming that hundreds of miles of border fences will keep many animals from the Rio Grande River, their only source of water, wildlife experts fear that some land animals will be killed as a result of the fence.
There are several wildlife refuges along the border, forming a “wildlife corridor” that environmental and government officials have preserved over many years. Although officials at the Department of Homeland Security say that environmental considerations will be taken into account in the location of the fence, the Department may waive compliance with environmental regulations for security reasons, as it has done in some previous cases.
President Bush has proposed building 700 miles of fence along the border. The Department of Homeland Security is aiming to complete 370 miles of it by the end of 2008.
See: Border Fence Could Imperil Wildlife, Environmentalists Say (AP, New York Times) and River enthusiast spends 9 months navigating the Rio Grande (Fort Worth Star Telegram)
