DHS rejects border fence/levee in Cameron County

BROWNSVILLE - Cameron County soon could soon be lined with approximately 37 miles of border fencing, after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security rejected the county's proposed alternative to it this week.

DHS said the county's proposal to combine the Rio Grande's levees with the planned U.S. border fence is not feasible and would be much more costly than anticipated. Although no construction date has been set for Cameron County's portion of the fence, DHS leaders hope to complete the project this year.

On Tuesday, County Judge Carlos H. Cascos said he suspected Cameron County would get a fence with no combined levee.

"We did everything that we could do (to offer them an alternative to fence construction)," Cascos said. "It's unfortunate, but we have to move."

Federal officials notified county leaders of their decision Monday.

‘Key factors'

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection letter to Cascos said the "key factors" behind the decision were cost and coordination with the International Boundary and Water Commission, which is working on levee improvements in the Cameron County area.

"We do not believe it will be feasible to collaborate with them in a joint levee-barrier project," wrote CBP Commissioner W. Ralph Basham in the letter.

"As we proceed with planned installation of border security fencing in Cameron County, we will maintain open dialogue with your community and affected landowners."

Cascos said he plans to request a written statement from IBWC Commissioner Carlos Marin assuring "these levees are going to be fine" and will meet FEMA guidelines and requirements.

U.S. Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, said in a statement that he was disappointed by the decision given the fact that he and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, had attempted to intervene on the county's behalf.

"While costs should always be a concern when it comes to the use of taxpayer dollars, this was a common-sense solution that put federal dollars to good use not only for the safety of local residents but also for our national security," Cornyn's statement said.

Other appeals

The DHS letter comes about a week after reports that the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers was soliciting bids for fencing in the county. Seven companies were invited to bid on the fence. As of Tuesday, no bids were awarded.

Cameron County leaders have been waiting for more than a month on DHS' word - hopeful considering Hidalgo County leaders' success in securing their own combined levee barrier earlier this year.

But last week, Cameron County commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding excluding language that federal officials may have wanted to approve a project similar to Hidalgo County's.

A paragraph saying Cameron County has funding to move forward with its proposal, and another that it understands DHS is not obligated to make any reimbursements to the county was removed.

Aside from Hidalgo County's alternative proposal, federal officials agreed to another plan University of Texas at Brownsville-Texas Southmost College submitted this summer. University leaders had been fighting fencing that would have cut through their campus. Now, an aesthetic structure already on campus will double as a border barrier.

Meanwhile, several lawsuits private landowners have filed against DHS are pending in federal court.