EL PASO — County commissioners are opposing construction of a wall along the nation’s southern border with a resolution.
The El Paso County Commissioners Court voted 3-1 Monday in favor of a resolution that calls for stopping the building of the border wall and says local law enforcement officials should not enforce federal immigration laws.
The resolution also emphasizes placing a moratorium on immigration raids, ensuring the enforcement of labor laws and civil protection regardless of a worker’s immigration status and stopping programs that criminalize immigrants.
Commissioner Veronica Escobar said the commissioners aren’t advocating having open borders or not enforcing immigration laws with the vote.
“It’s very important we tell the federal government we want a voice in policies that impact our daily lives,” Escobar said. “If we allow federal or state policymakers to create policy that impacts us without expressing our own concerns, we are not doing our constituents justice.”
Commissioner Miguel Teran, who put the item on the agenda, said some current immigration proposals are based on racism.
“Nine-eleven (the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001) came in from the north, but we’re not building walls over there. We’re building them here,” he said.
The vote was preceded by mostly favorable comments about the resolution, which was first presented in another form last week by advocates of immigrant rights.
“You’re joining the ranks of many communities across the country that are saying we’re not going to be part of this anti-immigrant movement,” said County Attorney Jose Rodriguez.
Two people spoke against the resolution. Commissioner Dan Haggerty voted against it.
“If it’s not your job to enforce immigration laws, by God it’s not your job to hinder the enforcement of immigration laws,” Armando Cardoza said. “If you support this resolution, all you do is kick America right in the crotch,” he said.
The fence is intended to help secure the border from illegal immigration, drug smuggling, and terrorism.
A coalition of Texas border mayors and county executives stretching from El Paso to Brownsville oppose building of the border wall. Residents don’t want the fence cutting through their land and say it will keep them, livestock and wildlife from the life-sustaining river.
Good for these Commissioner to be taking the correct stand against all the hype and hysteria this debate has generated.
U.S.-Mexico border fence is deja vu all over again
One of the most interesting things about years passing and thinking that we progress from year to year is finding out how little some things really change.
An Associated Press article out of Washington that appeared in the May 21, 1942, El Paso Herald-Post. The headline
“Senate Okays $50,000 For E.P. Border Fence.”
“The senate voted $50,000 today to build a 25-mile long barbed-wire fence along the Mexican border west of El Paso, although Minority Leader McNary questioned the wisdom of using essential materials for such a project.
How does this jibe with our good neighbor policy toward Mexico?’ McNary asked when the item came up as an amendment to a $425,703,000 appropriations bill for the State, Justice and Commerce departments and the federal judiciary.
We want to keep the good neighbor policy on both sides of the border,’ retorted Senator McCarran.
Is the fence supposed to keep out smugglers or cattle?’ McNary asked.
Smugglers,’ McCarran said.
Well,’ said McNary, shaking his head, ‘it must be quite a fence.’
The Senate passed the measure, carrying $204,625,000 more than the House voted, and returned it to the House.
The fence has been sought by immigration and customs authorities for years. It will simplify patrolling the border.”
That was 66 years ago. Wonder what the headlines will read in another 66 years?
Charlie Edgren / El Paso Times Staff
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