Sierra Club Vehemently Opposes Border Wall, Militarization passed out of Senate Committee

Mission, TX-- Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed an appropriations bill that includes $1.6 billion for border walls and increased funding for Border Patrol. If passed through Congress, the appropriations legislation fully funds 65 miles of additional border wall in Rio Grande Valley-- walling off the entire 150-mile valley from their river (except the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge where prohibition on construction is upheld). The money would also fund the hiring of 375 new Border Patrol agents, worsen the inhumane treatment of immigrants and fail to end family separation practices--  further driving Trump’s deportation agenda and continuing the militarization of borderlands.

In response, Jackie Treviño, volunteer with the Rio Grande Valley Sierra Club released the following statement:

“This appropriations bill is gut-wrenching for residents of the Rio Grande Valley like me. Our community is one embedded in deep culture, our shared values and a sense of security that only comes from a community so tight-knit. Building more than 60 miles of new wall here and adding hundreds of Border Patrol agents is immoral, misled and destructive.

“Allocating nearly $2 billion for more border wall isn’t just a waste of taxpayer money and a death warrant for natural places and wildlife habitat, it gravely endangers our communities and our life as we know it. Our booming tourism and outdoors economy is at serious risk with every mile of wall built. We must stop this appropriations request in its tracks.

“My community will not accept for this mistreatment and mischaracterization. We remain strong in defending against destruction of our lands, tearing apart of our families and militarizing of the towns where we live. We’re asking Americans everywhere to stand with us in opposing this administration and Congress’ agenda to build this boondoggle border wall and militarize our home at the expense of people and the environment.”