HIDALGO COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT No.

1
RAUL E. SESIN, PE. CFM
General Manager, Floodplain Administrator

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DAVID L FUENTES EDUARDO "EDDIE" CANTU RAMON GARCIA JOE M. FLORES )OSEPH PALACIOS
Board Member Board Member Chairman of the Board Board Member Board Member

May 02, 2017

Hon. Congressman Michael McCaul

Chairman of Homeland Security
Attn: John F. Kelly
Secretary of Homeland Security
Attn: Texas Delegation

RE: Clarification on the County of Hidalgo Texas position regarding a border wall

Hon. Congressman McCaul:

A letter sent on behalf of the Hidalgo County Drainage District Board of Directors, which
I chair, on February 21 , 2017, was not meant to be an endorsement of any sort of border
barrier or Border Wall to be constructed along the Texas-Mexico border. At that time, the
directors and I felt that if the federal government was going to build a barrier, then some
good should come out of it, so we proposed shoring up our levees in lieu of a wall or
fence.

Since then, the Board has heard from constituents who have urged us to take a stronger
stance on the issue. Therefore, please accept this clarification to the February 21 letter:

The Hidalgo County Drainage District #1 Board of Directors are adamantly against
the construction of a barrier or border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border- including
levee-border walls - and believes the logic behind the plan to be dangerously
flawed and ill informed.

Most everyone who lives or works along the U.S. Mexico border understands that
President Trump's $21 billion wall will have little impact on illegal immigration while hurting
our relationship with Mexico, which is Texas' largest trading partner; taking away or
breaking up privately owned land, much of which has been owned by families for
generations; taking away access to the river for irrigated farmland, and drinking water for
cattle and wildlife; and harming the habitat for migrating wildlife and endangered species.

Again, we want to make our position as the Hidalgo County Drainage District #1 Board of
Directors perfectly clear that we are against any barrier or wall along the U.S.-Mexico
border in Texas. We were pleased to learn that initial funding for the Border Wall was
removed from the proposed budget. Since the Border Wall is now off the table, please

902 N.DoolittLe Road Edinburg, Texas 78542 | Office 956292.7080.Fax 956292.7089

www.hcdd1.org
 HIDALGO COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT No. 1
RAUL E. SESIN, PE, CFM
General Manager, FloodpLain Administrator

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DAVID L. FUENTES EDUARDO "EDDIE" CANTU RAMON GARCIA JOE M. FLORES JOSEPH PALACIOS
Board Member Board Member Chairman of the Board Board Member Board Member

HON. CONGRESSMAN MICHAEL MCCAUL

05-02-17
PAGE 2

consider reinstating funding for much-needed social service programs that benefit the
poorest in our county, including U.S. veterans, the elderly, and working-poor families.

Sincerely,

Hon. Ramon Garcia

Hidalgo County Judge and
Chairman of the Drainage District #1 Board of Directors

Cc:
Hon. Senator John Cornyn ~ of Texas (R)
Hon. Senator Ted Cruz ~ of Texas (R)
Hon. Congressman Henry Cuellar ~ 28th District of Texas (D)
Hon. Congressman Vicente Gonzalez ~ 15th District of Texas (D)
Hon. Congressman Filemon Vela ~ 34th District of Texas (D)
Hon. Speaker Paul Ryan ~ Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District (R)
Hon. Chairman Kevin Brady ~ Texas's 8th Congressional District (R)
Hon. Greg Abbott ~ Governor of Texas (R)
Hon. Dan Patrick ~ Lt. Governor of Texas (R)

902 N.Doolittle Road Edinburg, Texas 78542 | Office 956292.7080.Fax 956292.7089

www.hcdd1.org