Border Fence To Bypass Property Of Wealthy Oilman Who Donated $35
Million To Bush Library

In October 2006, President Bush authorized the construction of a 700-
mile border fence between the United States and Mexico. Now, however,
the Department of Homeland Security's construction plans are facing
opposition from Texans who object to the fence cutting through their
property. The Washington Post reports on the hard line the Bush
administration is taking with these protesting landowners:

In December, officials sent warning letters to 135 private landowners,
municipalities, universities, public utility companies and
conservation societies along the border that had turned away
surveyors. Landowners were given 30 days to change their minds or face
legal action. More than 100 of them -- 71 in Texas -- let the deadline
pass.

Over the past several weeks, U.S. attorneys acting on behalf of the
Homeland Security Department have been filing lawsuits against the
holdouts.

DHS has no problem pursuing elderly and struggling homeowners. In the
small town of Granjeno (pop. 313), however, the border fence would,
conveniently, "abruptly end" at the property owned by Dallas
billionaire Ray L. Hunt.

It's not surprising that the administration would be hesitant to upset
Hunt, who was a Bush-Cheney campaign "Pioneer" in 2000. More recently,
Hunt "donated $35 million to Southern Methodist University to help
build Bush's presidential library." In 2001, Bush appointed Hunt to
his Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, granting him "a security
clearance and access to classified intelligence."

Hunt, one of the wealthiest oilmen in the world, previously served on
the board of Halliburton and was National Petroleum Council chairman
between 1991 and 1994.

Daniel Garza, a 76-year old man who might lose his home to the border
fence's intrusion, noted, "I don't see why they have to destroy my
home, my land, and let the wall end there." Pointing across the street
to Hunt's land, he added, "How will that stop illegal immigration?"

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