Environmental groups don’t like it, either.
According to AP, the Sierra Club and the Defenders of Wildlife have gotten together and convinced U.S. District Court Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle (who may not have needed much convincing) to temporarily halt construction of a portion of the Arizona border fence because the government hasn’t spent enough time studying the impact of the fence on the local environment.
The groups apparently are not concerned with the impact of the trash and damage to the environment caused by thousands of illegal immigrants passing through the area on foot and in vehicles each year.
Judge Huvelle apparently was very sympathetic to the activist groups. She grilled the government’s attorney and made comments that the government was trying to “ram” the environmental study through and start construction “before anyone would wake up.”
Fortunately, Director of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff can overrule the judge, waive environmental regulations and get things back on track. At least he can if he wants to.
Homeland Security Department spokesman Russell Knocke said the department will review the decision and weigh its options.
“Arizonans and, quite frankly, Americans everywhere have been clear that they want more border security. Today’s ruling will not diminish our resolve to deliver it,” Knocke said.
That’s at least encouraging.
By the way, according to Wikipedia (which means it may or may not be true), when Judge Hevelle was in private practice, she defended hotel magnate and “Queen of Mean” Leona Helmsley and boxing promoter Don King.
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