Holes in the Wall: Texas Border Wall Bypassing Wealthy Residents with Bush Admin Ties

[babylonsister]

On Democracy Now! today:
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/2/27/holes_in_the_wall_texas_border

Holes in the Wall: Texas Border Wall Bypassing Wealthy Residents with Bush Admin Ties

With the Texas Democratic primary and caucus less than a week away, the Bush administration’s plan to build a wall along part of the southern border has suddenly become a campaign issue. After many landowners refused to give over their land for the 18-foot-high wall, the Department of Homeland Security began filing lawsuits against some homeowners. At the same time, the government is leaving large gaps to avoid building the wall on the property of wealthy residents, including those with ties to President Bush.

With the Texas Democratic primary and caucus less than a week away, the Bush administration’s plan to build a wall along part of the southern border has suddenly become a campaign issue. In 2006 both Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton joined Republicans in passing the Secure Fence Act but now the candidates are raising questions over whether the fence should be built in South Texas.

After many landowners refused to give over their land for the 18-foot-high wall, the Department of Homeland Security began filing lawsuits against some homeowners. At the same time, the government is leaving large gaps to avoid building the wall on the property of wealthy residents, including those with ties to President Bush.

Even the University of Texas is in the middle of the dispute because the proposed wall passes through the school’s Brownsville campus. Part of the controversy also centers on the role being played by the arms manufacturer Boeing. Boeing leads a consortium of private contractors known as SBI Net which was hired by the government to carry out the project.

Melissa Del Bosque, Reporter in Austin, Texas. She has been covering the story of the border wall for the Texas Observer.

Jay Johnson Castro, Border activist and coordinator of the group Border Ambassadors. He is currently leading a 63-mile weeklong march in opposition to the wall. The walk is scheduled to end on March 4, the day of the Texas primary and caucus. He joins us on the phone from Brownsville, on the Texas-Mexican border.

[indepat]

1. Raises the question as to why is this wall being built

:shrug: