TO BUILD, OR NOT TO BUILD: How Would Building a Border Fence Harm the Environment?

Nora BouachaJhaunell ReidKatie Conway

INTRODUCTIONIllegal immigration has long been a source of contention in the United States, and in recent years the largest debate has centered around the mass entry of undocumented Hispanic nationals through the US-Mexico border. The United States Government Accountability Office has estimated that anywhere from 400,000 to 700,000 illegal immigrants are able to enter into America every year through the massive stretch of land2. Many government agencies, especially the Department of Homeland Security have declared this a matter of national security and have proposed a number of possible solutions, many of which have failed in Congress. However, the most controversial measures that have passed were the 2006 Border Fence Act and the 2007 Secure Border Initiative, both of which approved the construction of a 700 mile fence or wall across the United States’ southern border1. This initiative has raised many concerns with both the Mexican Government and various environmental groups who fear that such an extensive structure would throw off the ecosystems in the regions it disrupted6. The border fence would not just be built in highly populated areas, but also in rural or environmentally protected locations5. Many endangered plant and animal species live in habitats that span from the American south-west to Mexico, and by dividing this territory, people fear that the already rare species would be cut off from necessary resources like water or pollens needed for plant fertilization7. Additionally, scientists who have observed the effects of fences in other countries, like Botswana, have seen a decrease in genetic diversity resulting from the division3. Because of these negative repercussions, the Mexican Government claims that the construction of a border fence would be a violation of the 1983 Conservation Agreement signed by the two countries, and is threatening to bring the matter to international attention5.

FOR:

The United States Department of Homeland Security

AGAINST:

The Mexican government as well as the Sierra Club

MEDIATOR:

The United Nations International Court of Justice

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA:•According to the United States Accountability Office anywhere from 400,000 to 700,000 illegal immigrants enter the country currently through the border shared with Mexico2.•The United States Department of Homeland Security cites this border as the least guarded entryway into the United States1. How porous is this border compared to others?•How much a fence would affect the habitats of dozens of endangered and threatened species, separating and ultimately weakening them7.•How much it affects Genetic Diversity. Genetic diversity enables a species to pass on traits that allow it to adapt to changes in environment4 •Is this permissible under the United States and Mexico agreement on environmental conservation of 19845.

REFERENCES:1. "DHS Announces $12.14 Billion for Border Security & Immigration Enforcement Efforts."

Homeland Security. 31 Jan. 2008. U.S. Government. 3 Feb. 2008 <http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases.shtm>.

2. Elbel, Fred. "Desert Invasion - U.S." Desert Invasion. 05 Feb. 2008 <http://www.desertinvasion.us/data/invasion_numbers.html>.

3. "Immigration Fence Seen as Dead End for Wildlife." MSNBC. 07 Feb. 2008 <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18788333/>.

4. Rauch, Erik M., and Yaneer Bar-Yam. "Theory Predicts the Uneven Distribution of Genetic Diversity Within Species." Nature (2004): 449-452.

5. Roig-Franzia, Manuel. "Mexico Calls U.S. Border Fence Severe Threat to Environment." Washington Post 16 Nov. 2007, Suburban ed.: a24.

6. "Tucson:Border Walls Put People and the Environment At Risk." Sierra Club. 3 Feb. 2008 <http://www.sierraclub.org/comunidades/ingles/tucson.asp>.

7. "USA-Mexico Border Wall Means End for Jaguars." 07 Feb. 2008 <http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?id=14185>.

OPTIONS:•Use living fences, eg fences that make it easier for pollens and certain animals to pass through•Installation of sensors and observation towers•Increased human border patrol•Build fences in areas that do not support endangered or threatened wildlife•-Surveillance cameras or other technological security measures.•-Open market solutions (enhanced trade between America and Mexico and other Central American countries in order to boost their economies).

ABSTRACTIllegal immigration poses a problem not only for the country experiencing the in-migration (immigration) but also the country the migrant is abandoning (emigration). This migration and its problems are magnified in the case of illegal migration from Mexico to the United States of America. Mexico suffers from a reduced work force and most important “brain drain” which occurs when the educated population emigrates to another country with more opportunities. America may benefit from the increased work force but this migration also poses a major threat to National security. A possible solution for both countries exists in the form of a wall. However, this solution poses major environmental woes. The construction of a wall would over time drastically throw off the ecological balance in the region. This wall would serve as a barrier not only for humans but also keeps out wild life that would migrate to different areas. This would eventually lead to the isolation of the species and the depletion of the genetic diversity that enables them to survive.

SHARED INTERESTS•Halting Illegal emigration/immigration into the US and Mexico•Protecting the environment•Having more defined National borders.•Taking measures to aid in the victory for the war on terror and the war on drugs.•Having enough workers

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