To the Army Corp of Engineers, DHS, CBP, and IBWC, in response to your request for Right Of Entry on my property to survey: I have lived in Redford, Texas, for over 11 years and have built my business and my dream house here to finish my career, retire and finish out my life. My friends and neighbors here, mostly retirees who still raise livestock and farm, are strongly united against ANY border wall or barrier in our peaceful community, as well as the residents of the city of Presidio, and Presidio, Brewster, Hudspeth and Terrell counties.
If any of the citizens of this region of Texas had any fears of border security, we would welcome a physical barrier to protect us, but we do not want this barrier/wall because we are completely safe here and all use the Rio Grande for boating, fishing, swimming, irrigation, livestock watering and recreation. All of us here universally love the Rio Grande, and to build a barrier would be to FENCE US IN, which is simply not acceptable.
The 1848 treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, between the United States and Mexico, states clearly: “The navigation of the Gila and of the Bravo (Rio Grande) below said boundary shall be free and common to the vessels and citizens of both countries; and neither shall, without the consent of the other, construct any work that may impede or interrupt, in whole or in part, the exercise of this right.”
This language was written into the treaty to prevent Mexico from blocking U.S. access to the river, and the U.S. from blocking Mexico access to the river. If the federal government builds a barrier wall on the Rio Grande, here in the Big Bend region, it will block U.S. citizens—Texans and tourists alike—from accessing the river, plus it will kill livestock and wildlife. It will create a dead zone for every living creature and in essence will kill the Rio Grande.
All along the Rio Grande river corridor there are dozens of archeological sites, many with ancient burials, ancestors of people who still live here. The river valley in Redford and Presidio is the longest continuously cultivated land in North America—La Junta de Los Rios; this barrier will end the farming and cultivation. One of the most significant archeological sites happens to be on my property, which is on the state historical register and the National Historic Register.
There have been three published archeological studies performed on my land, and the documents you have sent me for your project illustrate that you will build your wall through the entire 4-acre site. There are dozens of landowners here who also have similar archeological sites on their property, and a wall/wall construction project will destroy these sites forever—Texas history obliterated by an unnecessary project.
In my 11 years living here, I have not witnessed a single immigrant/migrant pass through my land and have experienced no crime. Myself and most citizens of the Big Bend have not had a single good night of sleep due to the horrid nature of this proposed project. To date, not a single representative from any of your organizations has allowed us an in-person public forum meeting to express our dismay and rejection of this wall. We live here in peaceful, happy households, and your wall project will disrupt the lives and livelihoods of every citizen in the region; you will be creating a border crisis in an environment where no crisis exists.
Shame on all of you. You are the ones that should be losing sleep over the existential threat you have placed on us. You can call it your job, and hide behind your job titles, but that does not make it right. The community here is insisting that you halt your plans, remove the “emergency order” and agree to hear our voices and opinions. Let Texans take care of the Rio Grande. It is a defining feature of our great state, and we refuse to let the federal government take it away from us.
The electronic surveillance option, which works extremely well in every area where it has been installed, is intrusive but is much less harmful to the environment, the wildlife, the residents and the livestock. Not to mention that it costs a fraction of what an unnecessary wall would cost.
Many nations around the world have struggled to grasp what is happening here and have lowered opinions of the United States, but the citizens of the world love Texas, as do all of us in the Big Bend. The Citizens of the Big Bend roundly reject your plans for a border wall, and we are on the right side of history. Fellow Texans, America, and the world is watching. Give us the opportunity to meet you, tour the region, voice our opinions and halt this expensive, destructive debacle. We demand better treatment, and we deserve better treatment.
Charlie Angell
Redford