Defenders' Experts
Border Legislation
America’s border with Mexico includes national parks, forests, monuments, wildlife refuges, wilderness areas and other environmentally sensitive areas. Defenders of Wildlife is working to make sure comprehensive immigration reform includes protections for fragile riparian and desert ecosystems and wildlife along our border with Mexico.
The Borderlands Conservation and Security Act of 2007
Defenders advocates a new approach to secure the border and protect the Borderlands, and is working for passage of the H.R. 2593, Borderlands Conservation and Security Act of 2007, which was introduced by Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Arizona.
The Borderlands Conservation and Security Act would help secure the border and protect borderland resources by:
- Providing experts at the Homeland Security Department the ability to decide whether walls, vehicle barriers, or virtual fences would be most effective in securing the border.
- Giving land management agencies and local, state, and tribal officials a voice in border construction and decision-making.
- Requiring compliance with federal, state, and local laws meant to protect the air, water, wildlife, culture, and health and safety of people in Borderland communities.
- Alleviating budget pressure on federal land management agencies by enacting a cross-cutting budget initiative that would help mitigate damage to Borderland resources.
Border Security That Includes Borderland Conservation
Learn about the impacts of border activities on wildlife and sensitive lands and Defenders of Wildlife's proposed solutions.
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Publications, Fact Sheets and Letters
H.R. 2593 Provides for Effective Security While Protecting Borderland Wildlife, Habitat, and Local Communities
Fact sheet describing the impacts of border fences on central Arizona's Organ Pipe National Monument.
En el LimiteLea nuestro extensivo reporte acerca de los retos que se enfrentan en la frontera Arizona-Mexico.
Letter from Congressmen from districts along the border to Department of Homeland Secretary Chertoff urging more public input on border wall construction.
November 2007 request for action from more than 40 conservationists, educators, scientists, and state and federal agency representatives have worked together for 3 years to identify the actions needed to mitigate the impacts of border security operations.
April 2007 stakeholder recommendations from a series of symposiums organized by Defenders of Wildlife and the Wildlands Project to examine border security impacts and make sound, science-based recommendations for addressing them.
