According to a recently obtained letter, the Department of Homeland Security has requested billions of dollars in military funds from the Department of Defense to build additional miles of border wall. The February 25th request includes 213 miles of new and replacement wall, floodlights and surveillance equipment to be placed along California, New Mexico and Arizona.
Much of the proposed new wall will be constructed on national monuments, national wildlife refuges and other federal public lands essential for wildlife and their movement. One section of proposed new wall would be constructed across the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, which has been the cornerstone for recovery of the endangered Sonoran pronghorn. Another section of new wall will cut off a rare corridor for jaguar movement between the U.S. and Mexico.
Defenders of Wildlife has mapped out the project areas identified in the request. You can view the full map here.
Jamie Rappaport Clark, president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, issued this statement:
“This funding request is an egregious example of this administration’s attempts to divert military resources towards a manufactured crisis. The situation along our southern border does not constitute a national emergency. Our borderlands are full of thriving communities and abundant wildlife that will be irreversibly damaged by further border construction. We will keep fighting against President Trump’s abuse of his executive power.”
Defenders of Wildlife is celebrating 75 years of protecting all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With a nationwide network of nearly 2.2 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit defenders.org/newsroom and follow us on Twitter @Defenders.
