WASHINGTON— Yesterday, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva sent a letter to Acting CBP Commissioner John P. Sanders and expressed his strong opposition to a border barrier in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area that would alter river flow, cause massive flooding, and endanger the habitats of numerous endangered and threatened species. This comes after Rep. Grijalva’s previous July 3 public comments where he condemned border wall projects in Pima and Cochise Counties. The letter read in part:

“The Department of Homeland Security has already noticed its intent to waive the National Environmental Policy Act and other environmental laws in constructing the border wall in this area. By failing to conduct sufficient environmental planning and analysis, construction of a permanent wall in the San Pedro River will likely lead to significant debris buildup and redirection of floodwaters that cannot be effectively mitigated even with grates and liftable gates. The impacts of this level of environmental disruption can be disastrous and deadly, as we have already seen in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Nogales, Arizona and Sonora.

“President Trump’s border wall is ineffective, expensive, and unnecessary. Rising nationally treasured ecological resources and public lands like the San Pedro Rive and SPRNCA in the name of his ill-conceived campaign promise is both nonsensical and irresponsible.”

Read Rep. Grijalva’s full letter here.

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