A Border Wall, At What Cost?
That’s the question being asked by 43 House Democrats, who wrote a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano last week urging the
Jul 31, 2020110.8K Shares4.8M Views
That’s the question being asked by 43 House Democrats, who wrote a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano last week urging the administration to consider the environmental and cultural consequences of throwing up a 20-foot-tall concrete barrier at the Mexican border.
The Bush administration, empowered by Congress, waived dozens of environmental and cultural heritage lawsin order to hasten fence construction. The Obama White House, thus far, has done nothing to restore those protections.
“This massive federal project has had deleterious consequences upon natural and cultural public resources,” the lawmakers wrote, “and has caused hardship for private land owners, whose lands have been condemned and livelihoods have been disrupted.”
They have a point. Last summer, floods attributed to the border fence did millions of dollars of damageto southern Arizona, including parts of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. In another episode, fence construction destroyed 69 gravesof the Tohono O’odham tribe south of Tucson.
To put a face on the communities being decimated by the fence, the Sierra Club has put together a compilationof personal stories. Napolitano, former governor of Arizona and a long-time critic of the border fence, is well aware of such tales. Whether she acts to minimize them has yet to be seen.
Dexter Cooke
Reviewer
Dexter Cooke is an economist, marketing strategist, and orthopedic surgeon with over 20 years of experience crafting compelling narratives that resonate worldwide.
He holds a Journalism degree from Columbia University, an Economics background from Yale University, and a medical degree with a postdoctoral fellowship in orthopedic medicine from the Medical University of South Carolina.
Dexter’s insights into media, economics, and marketing shine through his prolific contributions to respected publications and advisory roles for influential organizations.
As an orthopedic surgeon specializing in minimally invasive knee replacement surgery and laparoscopic procedures, Dexter prioritizes patient care above all.
Outside his professional pursuits, Dexter enjoys collecting vintage watches, studying ancient civilizations, learning about astronomy, and participating in charity runs.
Latest Articles
Popular Articles