The Vatican previously expressed its disagreement on a certain provision of the Border Security Act, namely, the construction of a fence/wall along the U.S./Mexico border. Well, if a sense of Catholic social justice doesn’t convince you, then the need for jaguar breeding grounds in Arizona may help you to decide against supporting the wall.
From CNN:
Jaguars, an endangered species, have a breeding population in northern Mexico. Scientists believe there are no more than 120 left in the wild there.
It’s believed that since 1910, the cats are only visitors north of the border. They have been virtually unstudied here until recently.
But [Warner] Glenn and other conservationists worry that the possible return of breeding jaguars to the United States could be stopped in its tracks. The reason: the border fence.
Last month the Department of Homeland Security waived 30 environmental laws to finish 470 miles of the fence by the end of the year.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told Congress that the agency continues to talk to some 600 landowners along the border to get their input. But in order to comply with the congressional mandate, he said, there is no time to deal with “unnecessary delays caused by administrative processes or potential litigation.”
“We are currently in a lawless situation at the border,” says Chertoff. “I feel an urgency to get this tactical infrastructure in. And although we’re going to be respectful of the environment, we’re going to be expeditious.”
Two environmental groups, Defenders of Wildlife and the Sierra Club, have filed appeals with the U.S. Supreme Court, claiming the waivers are unconstitutional and set a dangerous precedent.
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