Thread by @TexasObserver

1/ As Trump visits El Paso today, congressional negotiators are scrambling to strike a border security deal and avert a shutdown. The deal might provide $2B for border “fencing” or “barrier.”

In Texas, that could be the same as funding Trump's “wall.” texasobserver.org/the-border-fen…

2/ Last month, Congressional Democrats took a stand, refusing to trade any wall money for an end to the government shutdown. But now, it's unclear what some are willing to fund, or what they'd call the structure they end up paying for. texasobserver.org/the-border-fen…

3/ “It’s a wall. A fence is something you’d want to put up in your backyard.”

A decade ago, 110 miles of wall were built in Texas. Former Brownsville Mayor Pat Ahumada told @MelissaLaLinea in 2010 why he doesn’t call it a “fence.” texasobserver.org/all-walled-up/

@MelissaLaLinea 4/ Last year, Congress funded 33 to 37 miles of “fence” in South Texas. With that money, Trump will soon construct a 30-foot “concrete and steel monstrosity” in Hidalgo County that will ravage private property, including the @NatButterflies refuge. texasobserver.org/trumps-wall-is…

@MelissaLaLinea @NatButterflies 5/ In neighboring Starr County, the administration plans later this year to build concrete-filled steel fencing, 20- to 30-feet high, which could cause disastrous flooding in the area: texasobserver.org/the-texas-mexi…

@MelissaLaLinea @NatButterflies 6/ New York Dem Nita Lowey, a lead negotiator, said “everything is on the table” except a massive concrete wall. Delaware Senator Chris Coons, not in the negotiation group, recently undercut Nancy Pelosi, saying the wall is not “immoral” but “a piece of infrastructure.”

@MelissaLaLinea @NatButterflies 7/ Meanwhile, Laredo Democrat Henry Cuellar — the only Texas Dem in the negotiating group — has begun using the inscrutable term “enhanced barrier” to describe what he'd support. In an email, a Cuellar aide told @bova_gus the phrase means “replacement fencing” and technology.

@MelissaLaLinea @NatButterflies @bova_gus 8/ One option could be for Congress to only fund upgrades to existing fence. In New Mexico and Arizona, much of the border is currently covered by short vehicle barrier. Upgrading that would still impact flooding and migratory wildlife, but not private property owners.

@MelissaLaLinea @NatButterflies @bova_gus 9/ The bottom line: If Congress funds any truly new wall — even if they call it something else — Texas property owners and wildlife will foot the bill. texasobserver.org/texas-teacher-…

@MelissaLaLinea @NatButterflies @bova_gus 10/ We’ve been covering the border wall for more than a decade. Find our best work here: texasobserver.org/border-wall/