#NoBorderWall Coalition

Statement on Right of Entry Letters

Last Night.

On January 21, 2020, the City of Laredo (“City”) voted to deny U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (“CBP”) the right of entry (“ROE”) to city-owned land in the downtown area because CBP failed to provide details regarding a proposed bulkhead. They failed to provide requested information on alignment and critical hydraulic and hydrology studies to understand flood impacts. Since 2019, the City has lobbied CBP for a bulkhead as an alternative to the 30-foot steel and concrete bollard wall (“Border Wall”). While the rest of the city, Webb County, and Zapata County will have a Border Wall, downtown Laredo would have a bulkhead, which is a modified border wall.

The #NoBorderWall Coalition (“Coalition”) has fought the bulkhead and Border Wall because Laredo is one of the safest cities in the United States without a barrier (bulkhead or Border Wall). More important, a few within the City are willing to cooperate with CBP in exchange for a bulkhead and remain silent against the Border Wall to be constructed in the rest of the city and county. This is unacceptable and for that reason the Coalition has made Laredo, Webb County, and Zapata County ground zero against any barrier.

While the Coalition supports the City of Laredo’s January 21st decision to deny the ROE, CBP will return with more information regarding the bulkhead; and at that time, the vote may be different.

They Will Be Back.

The CBP will return to City Hall with more information; and it’s critical that before that happens, our citizens speak out and tell our City to hold the line against the ROE letters whether the request is for the bulkhead or the Border Wall. No amount of information presented by CBP justifies the construction of a Border Wall in Laredo because we are safe. And if there is no emergency in Laredo, there can be no national emergency justifying a Border Wall or bulkhead. Laredo was founded in 1755 along the Rio Grande. Our city is built up against the river and any wall – steel bollard or bulkheads – will cut through our parks, nature trails, creeks, ranches and neighborhoods.

Do Not Feel Forced To Sign.

If you own land near the river, CBP will approach you to sign a ROE letter and make you believe or think that signing the ROE letters is required. This is simply not true. Each person or business owning property along the river is not required to sign an ROE letter. The Coalition recommends that you consult with your attorney or reach out to attorneys at the Texas Civil Rights Project in McAllen, TX for guidance at (956) 787-8171 x121.

According to CBP, nearly 40% of landowners in Laredo along the river have already signed the ROE letters, which means that the remaining 60% of landowners must not sign the ROE letters. We urge you to not sign, unless you have legal representation or reach out to the Texas Civil Rights Project.

Lastly, please join our movement and attend our upcoming monthly events, so your voice can be heard. Contact us at info@rgisc.org so that we can add you to our contact list.

Elsa Hull, Zapata landowner

Christopher Rincon, Michael Tracey, Luis Arriaga – River Pierce Foundation

Melissa R. Cigarroa, Lilian Campos, Jacklyn Reyna and Tricia Cortez – Rio Grande International Study Center

Viky Garcia, Laredo Immigrant Alliance

Ruben Soto Jr., CPA

Nadja Lopez

Maxine Rebeles

Meg Guerra, Journalist

Sylvia Bruni

Anna Wirsching

Rosa Maria De Llano

Valentin Ruiz, U.S. Army Veteran

Carlos Evaristo Flores