Is border wall the answer?

By Frank Garza Staff Writer

BROWNSVILLE — Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. was one of four witnesses who testified before the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee yesterday to help members of Congress ascertain whether a border wall is really the answer to border security.

In his testimony, Treviño called the wall an outdated approach.

“This will not work. Developing a one-size-fits-all approach, which is the border wall, utilizes a 14th century solution to address a 21st century problem,” Treviño said. “It makes no sense, especially as it is the most expensive of all possible alternatives.”

It would only accomplish a “false sense of security,” and would do nothing to alleviate criminal activity, Treviño added.

President Donald Trump in January signed an executive order directing the construction of a border wall with Mexico.

At the hearing, Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, asked Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security John F. Kelly whether someone at U.S. Customs and Border Protection specifically requested a 2,000-mile long border wall.

He also voiced his disagreement that the wall was the best solution to achieve a stronger border security.

“Wouldn’t you agree that the threat of terrorists entering the country is a threat that exists at international airports, at our seaports and at our border? If we obsess with only the Southern border, aren’t we missing the point?” Vela said to Kelly.

The Southern region is the largest opening and is “a gaping wound in (U.S.) defenses,” Kelly responded.

“It’s a layered defense that starts with border protection. I don’t criticize (immigrants) at all for wanting to come to the U.S. There is no one single solution,” Kelly said.

Treviño had a small list of suggestions for Congress to consider, including a virtual wall using cameras, improving road infrastructure and removing foliage that smugglers use for cover.

“I recently learned that the technology investments made several years ago in the Brownsville sector have yet to be improved,” Treviño said. “Imagine investing the 15 to 20 billion (dollars) to build the wall for equipment, road infrastructure, and more boots on the ground.”

Treviño also spoke about the complications border communities face, especially in Cameron County.

The problems are mostly economical. The county loses local law enforcement to federal agencies. Even so, there is still a shortage of Customs and Border Protection agents, causing longer lines at the bridges into the county.

“I think something to take into account is that the demands placed on the local communities near the border are different from the rest of the country,” Treviño said. “If we are asking for funds, it’s not because we want them. It’s because we need them.”

Fixing these issues would require increased federal staffing and a reinvestment in infrastructure, he said.

In addressing border security, it is also important not to hurt relations with Mexico, Texas’s largest trading partner, Treviño said.

“History will judge us on our actions. Let’s build on our actions by continuing to build bridges and not divide what we’ve achieved together with unbudgeted and outdated proposals such as a border wall,” Treviño said.