Green Daily

The environmental fight against the border fence hit a roadblock Monday, as the Supreme Court upheld the Bush administration's ability to waive environmental laws in order to speed up construction of the fence along the US-Mexico border. According to the ruling, Congress gave Homeland Security the right to ignore environmental laws in 2005, with the REAL ID Act.

The case centered around a 2 mile section of fence that cuts through the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area in Arizona. Obviously, a protected conservation area has laws the prohibit giant steel and concrete structures from being built through it. So, this case seemed like a easy place for environmentalists to start building their momentum, but instead -- they were handed a defeat.

I live somewhat close to the border, and have yet to see any of the construction that's causing so much controversy -- but apparently 331 miles of fence had already been completed as of June 13th. So, the fence is most certainly making progress.

Aside from being an eyesore for those who live near the border, the fence will isolate many threatened desert species on either side of the border. Two endangered wildcats were the center of the latest court battle, the Ocelot and the Jaguarundi.