Congressmen Gonzalez and O’Rourke Write to Acting DHS Secretary Duke About Border Wall at Santa Ana Refuge
WASHINGTON—Today, Congressmen Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), Beto O'Rourke (TX-16), and Filemon Vela (TX-34) sent a letter to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke, expressing their concern about the potential construction of a border wall at the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge.
"I am adamantly opposed to the construction of a wall along the U.S. – Mexico border, especially one that would go through one of our nation's most precious refuges: the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge," Congressman Gonzalez said. "South Texans deserve to know what is happening in their backyards and I call on Acting Secretary Duke and the Department of Homeland Security to answer these questions and exercise greater transparency moving forward."
The Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, located along the Rio Grande in South Texas, is one of the nation's top bird-watching sites in the nation with more than 400 species of birds, and is home to two endangered wildcats. Congressmen Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), and Joaquin Castro (TX-20) also signed the letter.
Read the full letter below or see the official letter attached:
August 04, 2017
Elaine Duke,
Acting Secretary U.S. Department of Homeland Security
3801 Nebraska Av. NW
Washington, DC 20016
Dear Acting Secretary Duke,
We write to express our concern regarding recent[1] reports that your department is considering shifting funds out of its current budget to pay for a proposed border wall, segments of which will be situated at the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge. As you know, the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge spans over 2,088 acres and is home to several species considered in danger of extinction. The Department of Homeland Security recently announced that it is waiving environmental laws in order to build a section of the wall by San Diego, causing alarm over whether this process will be repeated in other areas along the border. In turn, we ask that you clarify these concerning reports by providing answers to the following questions:
• Do you plan to construct a wall within the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge?
• Absent Congressionally appropriated funds, how do you plan to finance the wall?
• If you plan to shift funds from your current budget, from what account will the funds be withdrawn?
• Do you plan to hold a public hearing on the construction of any such wall? Can you detail all the opportunities the public will have to officially comment on the impact of this project?
• Does the Administration plan to circumvent the required environmental impact study for this project? If not, what waivers are Customs and Border Patrol using to sidestep this requirement, and when and by whom were they granted?
• How would a wall through the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge comply with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Solid Waste Disposal Act, and other relevant legislation? What environmental assessments and planning have been done to ensure compliance?
The Santa Ana refuge, located along the Rio Grande in South Texas, is one of the nation's top bird-watching sites in the nation with more than 400 species of birds. The refuge also is home to two endangered wildcats—the ocelot and jaguarondi. It generates hundreds of millions of dollars through ecotourism every year, and is an irreplaceable treasure to the region. A wall cutting through the refuge could do serious environmental and economic damage, and the American public deserves transparency for what could be billions of taxpayers' dollars spent on a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Thank you in advance for your attention in this matter.
Sincerely,
Vicente Gonzalez
Member of Congress
Beto O'Rourke
Member of Congress
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