Mexico's Latest Complaint about the Border Fence

Mexico's latest complaint about the border fence is that defense will be environmentally damaging. Just more excuses. Story from USA Today.

Mexico called on the United States to alter a plan to expand border fences designed to stem illegal immigration, saying the barriers would threaten migratory species accustomed to roaming freely across the frontier.

Ways of minimizing environmental damage from the fences could include the creation of cross-border bridge areas so that ecosystems remain connected and "green corridors" of wilderness without roads that would be less attractive to smugglers, according to a report released Monday and prepared for the Mexican government by experts and activists from both nations.

The report also suggested "live" fences of cactuses, removable fencing, and more permeable barriers to allow water, insects and pollen to cross the border. Ecologists say among the species affected would be Mexican jaguars and black bears, and the endangered, antelope-like Sonora Pronghorn.

On Monday, Mexico's Environment Department said the proposed fences would seriously hurt species that cross the 1,952-mile border and that the United States needs to alter or mitigate the barriers where necessary.

"The eventual construction of this barrier would place at risk the various ecosystems that we share," said Environment Secretary Juan Rafael Elvira, noting that the border is not just desert, but includes mountains, rivers and wetlands.

Mexico also wants Washington to expand its environmental impact study on the fences and will file a complaint with the United Nations' International Court of Justice in the Hague, Netherlands if necessary.

Because Mexican government officials have repeatedly complained about the border fence, I have a hard time buying this. The real reasons for their opposition to the border fence is that it makes it harder for illegal aliens to enter the United States. I've had about enough of Mexico complaining about America exercising its rightful sovereignty.

So, Mexico is threatening to file a complaint with the International Court of Justice. What is the ICJ going to do, tell the US it can't build the border fence. The only problem is, the court could never enforce such a decision, because the United States is not a party to the ICJ.

(Hat tip: Hot Air)