OBP005563

From: (b) (6)

To: (b) (6) ; SELF, JEFFREY D
Subject: Re: Update from today
Date: Saturday, December 08, 2007 9:43:53 AM

Good idea.

----- Original Message -----

From: (b) (6)
To: (b) (6) SELF, JEFFREY D
Sent: Sat Dec 08 09:41:04 2007
Subject: Re: Update from today

No specific dates, but looking for next week sometime. I suggested that, since I thought the Chief
would be out next week, we might be able to set up a call for the two of them and then follow up with
a larger briefing (incl SBI) if he is still interested. It would be difficult to go up and just have the Chief
brief him without a larger group of people having to be included. What do you think?

----- Original Message -----

From: (b) (6)
To: (b) (6) ; SELF, JEFFREY D
Sent: Fri Dec 07 21:28:46 2007
Subject: Re: Update from today

Thanks, (b) (6) Did Chief Reyes' office indicate how soon he'd want the brief from the Chief.

----- Original Message -----

From: (b) (6)
To: SELF, JEFFREY D; (b) (6)
Sent: Fri Dec 07 19:54:18 2007
Subject: Update from today

Jeff and (b) -

(6)
I passed along the USA Today article on UT-Brownsville and the information received from Sector to
Cuellar, Ortiz, and KBH's offices. Ortiz's LD, who wasn't actually in yesterday's meeting, passed along
this additional info: "The issue with UTB revolved around the levee. At one point IBWC levees were
going to be used. If that was the case then it would cut through their campus. The levee that is along
the border in that area is actually a city levee. That was their initial concern and I do know they are still
concerned with possible traffic on their campus. I believe they have expressed concerns to you." She
was appreciative

On the scheduling of P28 briefings - I'm waiting to hear back from Commissioner's office on whether
the direction from S1/S2 is for Mr. Ahern to be the lead on these briefings at this time, in which case I
will need to coordinate with his schedule. House and Senate Homeland take priority right now and will
most likely be briefed on Monday or Tuesday. I will schedule the others after those two. I did talk to
Chairman Reyes' office today and, to put it bluntly, he would like to get a report on P28 from the Chief
and not be told some BS story by DHS.

Also, just an FYI - as promised in the meeting, I sent each member/senator the break out of anticipated
condemnations as of today's date (number is down to 149 across entire SWB).
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I'm sorry that was so lengthy!! I hope you both have a good weekend.

(b)
(6)
-----Original Message-----
From: AGUILAR, DAVID V
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 10:09 PM
To: (b) (6) ; SELF, JEFFREY D; COLBURN, RONALD S; (b) (6)

Subject: Re: USA Today editorial against border wall

(b) (6)

Thanks and yes I agree let's offer up same to Ortiz's Office.

David

----- Original Message -----

From: (b) (6)
To: AGUILAR, DAVID V; SELF, JEFFREY D; COLBURN, RONALD S; (b) (6)

Sent: Thu Dec 06 21:15:00 2007

Subject: Re: USA Today editorial against border wall

Chief,

Yes, sir. I will do both tomorrow morning and keep you informed.

Given Congressman Rodriguez's evident frustration and comments in today's briefing (followed up with
calls from his staff after the meeting), it might be beneficial to extend the same offer to him as well -
especially since he is one of our appropriators.

(b)
(6)

----- Original Message -----

From: AGUILAR, DAVID V
To: SELF, JEFFREY D; COLBURN, RONALD S; (b) (6)

Sent: Thu Dec 06 19:16:37 2007

Subject: Re: USA Today editorial against border wall

(b) (6)

Can you make sure that Congressman Ortiz and Congressman Cuellar get this information?

Let me know when this has been accomplished.

Second getback we had from today's briefing was that Chairman Reyes wants a briefing on Project 28.
As does Congressman Cuellar relating to SBInet and/or technology that is going to be placed in Laredo.

Can you set up these two events and keep Chief Self and apprised?

Thanks,

David

----- Original Message -----

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From: SELF, JEFFREY D

To: AGUILAR, DAVID V; COLBURN, RONALD S; (b) (6)

Sent: Thu Dec 06 17:27:25 2007

Subject: FW: USA Today editorial against border wall

Chief,

Here is the initial messaging concerning the issue of fence cutting through the campus.

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: (b) (6)
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 5:05 PM
To: SELF, JEFFREY D; (b) (6)
Subject: FW: USA Today editorial against border wall

In today's meeting the question came up on proposed fence cutting through the UT-Brownsville campus
- here's the email traffic that I had remembered from back in August.

-----Original Message-----
From: (b) (6)
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 7:32 AM
To: (b) (6)
SELF, JEFFREY D
Subject: RE: USA Today editorial against border wall

Good morning.

The August 10, 2007 article in USA Today perpetuated misinformation about fence bisecting a Texas
university. Last week, OBP contacted the sector to follow up on the issue, and the following provides
additional insight:

Article stated:

If the 153-mile portion of the fence between Mexico and Texas were constructed today, students at the
University of Texas-Brownsville might have to carry passports. Silly, you say? Well, part of the planned
fence would slice through the campus, leaving a part of it on the Mexican side, according to a map
provided by the U.S. Border Patrol at a recent community hearing. The fence would also put the Fort
Brown landmark, the district office of Democratic Texas State Rep. Ryan Guillen and the bridge that
links Brownsville to Matamoros, Mexico, on the Mexican side, University of Texas anthropology professor
Antonio Zavaleta told officials.

Facts:

There are no proposed fence projects on University of Texas-Brownsville (UTB) property. However,
there are proposed projects that will border the UTB property.

Dr. Antonio Zavaleta (PHD) was present at a public outreach session conducted at the Harlingen Border
Patrol Station on June 4, 2007. Dr. Zavaleta is a member of the UTB Board of Directors. Acting Chief
Patrol Agent Reynaldo Garza, ACPA Norma Cortez-Lopez, and PAIC Tom Rudd spearheaded the event.
Dr. Zavaleta was a vocal attendee and is also a border land owner in the Brownsville area.

There were no maps shown as part of the town hall meeting, nor are Border Patrol Agents currently
authorized to show maps at meetings.

Most of the information is based on the April 20, 2007 “leaked information” map. That map never
provided close in detail, and would be considered out of date if it did.
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The link provided at the end of the paragraph brings the reader to another article, which doesn’t
mention Zavaleta at all.

(b) (6)
Secure Border Initiative
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(b) (6)
-----Original Message-----

From: (b) (6)

To: (b) (6)

Self, Jeffrey D
Sent: Mon Aug 13 20:26:48 2007
Subject: Re: USA Today editorial against border wall

Just getting BB back -

Will get some direction and get back. But I agree that we should be vetting maps used at town halls
carefully.

----- Original Message -----

From: (b) (6)

SELF, JEFFREY D
<JEFFREY.Self@dhs.gov>
Sent: Mon Aug 13 19:34:33 2007
Subject: Re: USA Today editorial against border wall

When I went to the town hall in Brownsville this spring, a lady at the meeting pointed out that her
house was being drawn on the Mexican side of the fence (and pretty much in the river). Sounds like
the same issue here. Are we still using the same map in town halls as was released back in the spring?

-(b)
(6)
----- Original Message -----
From: (b) (6)
To: (b) (6)

Sent: Mon Aug 13 19:26:45 2007

Subject: RE: USA Today editorial against border wall

Texans raising voices against border

fence

By Marisa Treviño

When President Bush signed the Secure Fence Act late last year, he probably

thought it was a done deal. Yet, almost 10 months after the Department of

Homeland Security was authorized to start enclosing U.S. territory, resistance

to the fence is growing, especially in Texas — and with good reason.

If the 153-mile portion of the fence between Mexico and Texas were
OBP005567

constructed today, students at the University of Texas-Brownsville might have

to carry passports. Silly, you say? Well, part of the planned fence would slice

through the campus, leaving a part of it on the Mexican side, according to a

map provided by the U.S. Border Patrol at a recent community hearing. The

fence would also put the Fort Brown landmark, the district office of Democratic

Texas State Rep. Ryan Guillen and the bridge that links Brownsville to

Matamoros, Mexico, on the Mexican side, University of Texas anthropology

professor Antonio Zavaleta told officials.

The problems don't end there. The fence would carve into the region's

90,000-acre Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, with economic

consequences. Residents, among the region's poorest, rely on an ecotourism

industry, which pumps about $125 million a year into the local economy.

What's difficult for people along the Texas border to swallow is that the decisions about the fence are
being made

in Washington, where local residents are not being heard. But community activists and
environmentalists are

drumming up ways to get the Bush administration to consider other options. In true Texas spirit:

* Community organizers are communicating through list serves, blogs and websites.
BorderAmbassadors.com, for

example, is coordinating protests such as a 16-day fence demonstration — Hands Across el Rio —
beginning Aug.

25. Mexican politicians will show solidarity with U.S. border leaders by joining hands across the bridges
that link the

two countries.

* Last month, a Brownsville city delegation traveled to Washington to present an alternative to the
fence: a

reservoir project that would create a water supply source while creating a natural border barrier.

Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., introduced a bill to give local communities a voice in border construction
decisions. The

Texas Border Coalition — made up of border mayors, county judges, economic development experts
and Texas

Gov. Rick Perry — condemns the fence. Said Perry: "If you build a 30-foot wall or fence, the 32-foot
ladder

business is going to get real good."

Everyone wants a safe and secure border, but it's not too late for the Bush administration to consider
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other

options. Otherwise, it could find itself on the wrong side of the fence on this issue.

Marisa Treviño, who lives in Dallas, writes a blog, Latina Lista.

Posted at 12:14 AM/ET, August 10, 2007 in Business issues - Forum, Environment - Forum, Forum

commentary, Immigration - Forum, Politics - Forum, Politics, Government - Forum, Trevino | Permalink

________________________________

From: (b) (6)

Sent: Monday, August 13, 2007 7:27 PM
To: (b) (6)
Subject: Re: USA Today editorial against border wall

The attachment opens all garbled on my bberry. I'm in el paso and don't have access to a desktop or
laptop. Can anyone cut and paste the text?

-(b)
(6)
----- Original Message -----
From: (b) (6)
To: (b) (6)

Sent: Mon Aug 13 19:17:17 2007

Subject: FW: USA Today editorial against border wall

Anyone have some direction on this?

________________________________

From: (b) (6)

Sent: Saturday, August 11, 2007 9:32 AM
To: (b) (6)
Subject: FW: USA Today editorial against border wall

Is this true that part of the college and the congressman’s office would be on the other side of the
fence??
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