Local Officials Say Border Fences Will Harm Economy

Mayors and local officials along the Texas-Mexico border are angry that they were not included in a planning process to create more than 150 miles of fencing along the international border. Officials fear the fences will harm their local economies.

1 minute read

May 2, 2007, 2:00 PM PDT

By Nate Berg

"'We were told by the secretary of DHS they would be consulting with us before the fence went up, and it has not happened,' said Steve Ahlenius, president of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce."

"'It looks like the whole Rio Grande Valley is going to be fenced in,' said a dismayed Bill Summers, longtime president of the Valley Chamber of Commerce."

"Summers said a fence could hurt the 'billions' in trade that moves across the Texas-Mexico border communities, where residents have built long-standing social and cultural ties."

FULL STORY: Fence plans anger mayors on border

Tuesday, May 1, 2007 in The Houston Chronicle

Community / Economic Development Social / Demographics Texas

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