U.S.-Mexico Border Fence
About the Issue:
The Border Fence Project plan is to build a 700 mile fence all along the U.S.-Mexico border. This fence will cover one-third of the entire 2,100 mile border, and it borders California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. The very large Rio Grande River will be used as part of the fencing, so there is a big portion that does not need to be built. The 700 mile fence will be built with dual layers of walls equipped with security cameras. The border fencing just happens to run through many conservation areas and other refuge lands, which has hurt, and will continue to hurt, the nearby wildlife.
These issues and others have led to big problems with the residents who live close to the border fence construction area. Both in the U.S. and Mexico, residents fear having a fence so close to their towns could create various problems, many of which will not be known until after the border fence is finished.
The main purpose for the building of the border fence is to help better secure our nation, but should the nearby wildlife have to pay for something that they are not even part of? Is it really worth it to put the fragile ecosystem that we live in at risk? In times of need going to our Lord for answers is often our best solution. Genesis 2:15 says, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Our God put us here to be caretakers for our earth, not to be her cause of death. That includes not only caring for the environment itself, but also caring for all of the other creatures that we share our world with.
Our Resources and Links
- The 30 plus environmental laws that were waived included those affecting wildlife, forests, farms, migratory birds, etc. These laws were put in place to care for our earth and those who inhabit it, waiving then is not just a political thing; it's personal.
- The Border in the Balance
- Many endangered species including the Sonoran Pronghorn (bottom left), the Bighorn Sheep, the Jaguar, as well as many others, could become extinct if action is not taken against the proposed border fence building.
- Click here to read a New York Times story on the waiving of these laws and the impact it is having.
- The US-Mexico border fence project is creating more problems than it is fixing, already. Click here to read more.
- Texan mayors want to stop border fence - Read the article!
- Border Fence will limit water access in El Paso
- Look at the work being done by other groups like Defenders of Wildlife, The Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy on this same issue.
- A Diverse Habitat - Wall Between Mexico and the US Hampers Endangered Species Protection
- Gulf Crossings - another aspect of the "border fence"
- Mexico Seeks Border Change
For More Information Contact:
Eco-Justice Program Office National Council of Churches
110 Maryland Ave., NE
Suite 108
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 544-2350
info@nccecojustice.org