OBP005878

From: (b) (6)

To: (b) (6)
Subject: RE: El Paso denies feds access to road for border fence
Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:01:01 AM

Oh…and it’s just an access road that leads to a staging area.

(b) (6)
Congressional Liaison Officer
US Customs and Border Protection
(b) (6)

From: (b) (6)

Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:00 AM
To: (b) (6)
Subject: RE: El Paso denies feds access to road for border fence

Thanks – I’ll forward that on

From: (b) (6)

Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:49 AM
To: (b) (6)
Subject: RE: El Paso denies feds access to road for border fence

We are still working through the significance of the vote. It is my understanding Congressman Reyes
called Chief Aguilar last night on his personal cell-phone to discuss the issue. I believe it is a purely
symbolic vote by the city council and, since it has to do with existing fencing, shouldn’t have a major
impact. That being said, we will continue to work with the City of El Paso to find an appropriate
solution. There are still avenues left to be pursued.

(b) (6)
Congressional Liaison Officer
US Customs and Border Protection
(b) (6)

From: (b) (6)

Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:45 AM
To: (b) (6)
Subject: FW: El Paso denies feds access to road for border fence

How do you think we should answer this?

From: (b) (6)

Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:41 AM
To: (b) (6)
Subject: RE: El Paso denies feds access to road for border fence

(b)
(6)
Can your folks please track this down? Let me know if you need anything from me.

Thanks,
(b)
(6)
OBP005879

From: (b) (6)

Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:34 PM
To: (b) (6)
Subject: Re: El Paso denies feds access to road for border fence

(b) and (b)

(6) (6)
Can you tell us whether this action by the El Paso city council has a significant practical effect on fence replacement
and construction. In other words, does the lack of access to the road require DHS to go to federal court and use the
power of eminent domain—or is there a “work-around” (i.e., another access road that doesn’t belong to the City of
El Paso within a reasonable distance).

Can you let us know?

Thanks

(b) (6)
Counsel, Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Refugees
Senator Cornyn, Ranking Member
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

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

From: (b) (6)
To: (b) (6)
Cc: Walsh, Brian (Cornyn)
Sent: Tue Mar 18 17:06:27 2008
Subject: El Paso denies feds access to road for border fence

El Paso denies feds access to road for border fence

The Associated Press

EL PASO, Texas

The country's largest border city won't let federal authorities use an access road to replace border fencing.

The El Paso City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to block the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque
district, from using the access road that cuts across city property.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed replacing existing fencing in downtown El Paso and
building 56.7 miles of new fencing in largely rural areas east of the city.

Cities and property owners in South Texas that have previously denied the federal government access to land to
build fencing are being sued by the government.