Concerned Citizens Speak at Eagle Pass City Council Meeting Against Militarization of the Rio Grande River
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2023
A group of concerned citizens of Eagle Pass, Texas spoke before the Eagle Pass City Council at its special meeting held on Thursday, July 6, 2023 during its citizens communication agenda to address their genuine concerns against the militarization of the Rio Grande River during recent months.
The tipping point for many Eagle Passans was the closure of Shelby Park on the banks of the Rio Grande in downtown Eagle Pass and denial of public use and access to the public park by the Texas Department of Public Safety Operation Lone Star and the installation of a water buoy fence on the river by the State of Texas at the behest of Governor Greg Abbott.
Another incident that raised concerns among Eagle Passans was the razing and dredging of a Rio Grande River island adjacent to the Shelby Park public boat ramp by the City of Eagle Pass and Texas’ Operation Lone Star Program and extending it into the middle of the river in order to build a military-style security post.
Since the implementation of the controversial Operation Lone Star Program by Governor Abbott in March 2020, Eagle Passans have noticed the steady militarization of the community and the Texas-Mexico border by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas National Guard, and federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U. S. Border Patrol. In addition, Governor Abbott has invited other states in the United States to support and deploy state troopers and national guard members to Operation Lone Star.
Among the concerned Eagle Passans who addressed the Eagle Pass City Council were retired teacher and Rio Grande advocate Jessie Fuentes, Karina Flores, Esai Fuentes, and Dr. Adriana E. Martinez.
Jessie Fuentes presented the City Council a short video of the Rio Grande showing the island that was dredged-up and converted into a security post mid-river, extending Shelby Park into the river. Fuentes also presented a photograph of the Rio Grande island as it now appears as a military-style security post. Fuentes also addressed his concerns regarding the installation of a water buoy fence on the Rio Grande by the State of Texas. Fuentes admonished the City Council that the Rio Grande is the sole source of potable water for Eagle Pass and should be protected for present and future generations.
Fuentes announced and invited the City Council to a press conference to be held on Friday, July 7, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. at the Shelby Park Boat Ramp by concerned citizens opposed to the militarization of the Rio Grande.
Karina Flores stated she was born and raised in Eagle Pass and grew up with Shelby Park being a public park for fishing, boating, sports activities, amusement carnivals, and use as a public space. Flores questioned the activities over recent months that have militarized the Rio Grande and Shelby Park. She stated the Rio Grande is like her identity since she grew up around it in Eagle Pass. She questioned if the proper environmental impact studies have been done to consider the long term effects of these controversial measures such as the installation of a water buoy fence and bulldozing of the Rio Grande island.
Esai Fuentes stated he had concerns with the closure of the Shelby Park Boat Ramp for public use as well as the denial of public access to the public park. He stated he was denied access to Shelby Park Boat Ramp by Texas DPS Troopers guarding the public park.
Juanita Martinez echoed the concerns raised by all the speakers at the citizens communication agenda.
Dr. Adriana E. Martinez, a fluvial geomorphologies geographer expert and associate professor at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, stated she was denied access and use of the Shelby Park Boat Ramp the day before for the first time in her life. Dr. Martinez questioned whether any agency had performed the appropriate environmental impact studies before dredging the Rio Grande island and installation of the water buoys on the river. The water buoys will change the flow of the river. She noted the Rio Grande and Shelby Park looks like a war zone with concertina wiring along the banks of the river, placement of steel storage containers along the banks of the river, construction of a security post in the middle of the river, and large presence of Texas DPS Troopers and Texas National Guard soldiers on the banks of the river.
Dr. Martinez queried whether the citizens had been advised and consulted with before these security measures were implemented. She noted that all of these measures impact the flow, sedimentation, and habitat of the Rio Grande and affect the wildlife in and out of the river. She also noted that these security measures may cause liability in the event of any flooding as water is very powerful and easily moves everything in its path, including the steel storage containers. The City’s two international bridges may be damaged by these security measures in the event of a flood. She also noted that downstream communities and structures could be impacted or damaged in the event of flooding.
Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. thanked the citizens for expressing their concerns and addressing the City Council.
