On December 17, 2005, the U.S. House of Representatives, in passing H.R. 4437, included an amendment to Section 102(b) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996 that calls for the installation of a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border. The U.S. Senate will be considering this same legislation.

The City of Laredo finds that the construction of a “security” fence of any kind on the United States side of the Rio Grande River would be a retrograde, is redundant, and more importantly, is an insulting symbol to our Mexican neighbors.

The City of Laredo, however, feels that personal and familial relations, and wide and longstanding business and commercial connections with our Mexican neighbors will be in jeopardy. In addition, the City of Laredo works in concert with all U.S. federal authorities and goes so far as to collaborate with international authorities in Mexico to initiate and maintain binational agreements to render aid in emergency situations to Mexico. For example, the Laredo Fire Department responds to and maintains vigilance over the river Vega when there is a fire on either side of the Rio Grande River because of the volatile nature of the fire to jump the river. Also, the Laredo Police Department aids federal authorities in various capacities along the river, including responding to emergency calls for law enforcement services (conducting criminal investigations when warranted), and in flooding situations. These situations, which arise with frequency, require easy access to the river along all portions of Laredo, Webb County, Texas.

The City of Laredo asks the members of congress to reject the idea of constructing a physical barrier in the form of a reinforced fencing. Furthermore, federal funding and resources would be better spent on the Department of Homeland Security for the U.S. Border Protection and Custom division and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement division to increase personnel, technological equipment and infrastructure, as well as for local municipal first-responder services. Instead, the City of Laredo respectfully asks for Congress to consider our River Vega project that incorporates a widening and deepening of the river through the construction of a weir, which will not only improve the aesthetics, but will create a physical barrier, and improve surveillance opportunities for a virtual fence which would aid in the apprehension of persons who may enter this country illegally and persons who may traffic in the business of transporting and concealing illegal entrants.

• Members of Congress
• Department of Homeland Security
• Environmental Protection Agency