McClatchy: Texas communities sue Homeland Security Dept. over border fence

[babylonsister]

Texas communities sue Homeland Security Dept. over border fence
By Dave Montgomery | McClatchy Newspapers


WASHINGTON — A coalition of Texas community leaders on Friday sued the Department of Homeland Security over the construction of a controversial fence on the Southwest border, saying the DHS trampled the rights of property owners in acquiring land for the project.

The suit, filed in a federal district court in Washington, accuses Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and DHS officials of violating numerous laws and regulations and effectively coercing Texas property owners to turn over land for the fence without consultation.

DHS officials denied the assertions.

"We've nearly bent over backward to work with landowners," said DHS spokeswoman Laura Keehner. "Accusations to the contrary are either ill-informed or just plain wrong."

Representatives of the Texas Border Coalition, composed of cities and counties along Texas' 1,200-mile border with Mexico, outlined the lawsuit at a press conference. Peter Schey, the lead counsel for the coalition, said he plans to seek a preliminary injunction that would require the government to restart the land acquisition process, stopping work on at least a portion of the fence.

The lawsuit is the latest, and most extensive, legal action brought against the Bush administration in an attempt to block pedestrian fencing and vehicle barriers that the DHS is building across all four states that border Mexico. It could further complicate the administration's efforts to complete the targeted 670 miles of fencing by Dec. 31.

more...

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/37324.html

[gratuitous]

1. Why those traitorous Texans!

Don't they know that it's imperative to our nation's security and safeguarding of our freedom to put up a wall on our southern border? Al Qaeda in Mexico doesn't care about property rights, and they'll invade America without any regard whatsoever as to whose land they're traversing.

Yes, individual property rights are important, but that's just not a luxury the United States can afford when people who would destroy our nation and our way of life are out there, plotting and planning to kill us all. Get with the program, Texas! The president you gave us is only trying to protect us all. Isn't your life worth a few acres of land?

Hmmmm.

Nope, it's a pretty stupid proposition, no matter what the context. Shocking, really, that it gulled so many people for so long, but there it is.

[countryjake]

2. Another older link on this ongoing outrage...

They're not going down without a fight!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2893812&mesg_id=2893812

[countryjake]

3. Forgot to recommend. Block the Wall! n/t