From: (b) (6)

To: Self, Jeffrey (

Cc: (b) (6)
Subject: Fw: Four more lawsuits filed against landowners
Date: Thursday, January 31, 2008 8:03:55 AM

In case you haven't seen KBH's letter to the President. I am sure you know about it.

----- Original Message -----

From: (b) (6)
To: (b) (6) Pagan, David G (b) (6)

Sent: Thu Jan 31 08:02:06 2008

Subject: Re: Four more lawsuits filed against landowners

January 30, 2008

The President

The White House

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

In recent months, the local elected leaders of Cameron and Hidalgo counties have collaborated
with the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) and the Department of Homeland
Security on an outstanding project that will secure our border while also protecting Texas residents from
the dangers of flooding caused by natural disasters. I believe their efforts are a model for local
consultation on border security initiatives.

To support their efforts, I have worked closely with my Senate and House colleagues and
Secretary Chertoff to help this project receive the necessary funding and assistance to repair the levees
along the Rio Grande while also protecting Texas from illegal activity along this section of the border.

As you prepare to submit the Fiscal Year 2009 budget to Congress, I urge you to request
sufficient funding to the IBWC to repair the levees and construct strategic fencing in accordance with
the proposal offered by locally elected officials working in concert with the Department of Homeland
Security.
 Thank you for your continued assistance and for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Kay Bailey Hutchison

----- Original Message -----

From: (b) (6)
To: Pagan, David G; (b) (6)

Sent: Thu Jan 31 08:00:47 2008

Subject: RE: Four more lawsuits filed against landowners

I do not have a copy of the letter.

(b) (6) can you provide a copy of the letter?

(b) (6)

Secure Border Initiative

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

(b) (6)

For more information about the Secure Border Initiative, visit www.cbp.gov/sbi
<http://www.cbp.gov/sbi> or contact us at SBI_info@dhs.gov <mailto:SBI info@dhs.gov> .

________________________________

From: PAGAN, DAVID G.- HQ (b) (6)

Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 7:59 AM
To: (b) (6) Pagan, David G; (b) (6)

Subject: Re: Four more lawsuits filed against landowners

Thanks,(b) (6)

Do we have a copy of KBH's letter to POTUS?

----- Original Message -----

From: (b) (6)
To: (b) (6) Pagan, David G
(b) (6)
(b) (6)

Sent: Thu Jan 31 07:15:13 2008

Subject: Four more lawsuits filed against landowners

FYI

(b) (6)

Secure Border Initiative

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

(b) (6)

For more information about the Secure Border Initiative, visit www.cbp.gov/sbi
<http://www.cbp.gov/sbi> or contact us at SBI_info@dhs.gov <mailto:SBI_info@dhs.gov> .

Four more lawsuits filed against landowners

BY EMMA PEREZ-TREVIÑO/The Brownsville Herald <mailto:eperez-trevino@brownsvilleherald.com>
January 31, 2008 - 12:38AM
The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed three more lawsuits against Cameron County landowners Wednesday for
temporary access to their properties as part of the government’s border fence project.

“These people seem to be looking for property that may not be reasonably fit for the fence, but who
knows where they are going,” said attorney Albert Villegas, who represents property owners in three of
the 21 lawsuits filed so far. All cases will be heard in the U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas.

One lawsuit was against Villegas’ client, Morgan C. Jones. Villegas also represents Jones & Jones
Properties and the R.C. Smith Trust, which own land between the two international bridges downtown.

“I don’t know if they are just looking for any and all property that my client has because we are
contesting this issue. They are making us go to court and argue for adequate compensation and the
government’s right to condemn property,” Villegas said.

“We need a fence in the middle of Brownsville as much as we need a hole in the head.”

Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison lobbied President George W. Bush to fund a combination
levee and fence along the river as an alternative. It was initially proposed by Hidalgo and Cameron
County officials to repair the levees while securing the border.

“I believe their efforts are a model for local consultation on border security initiatives,” the state’s senior
senator wrote in her letter to Bush.

It has been estimated that the cost to repair the levees would be $2 million per mile and that about 36
miles could be involved, costing about $70 million, according to Hutchison’s spokesman, Matt
Mackowiak.

Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos said Hutchison’s pursuit is good news.

“I hope that the proposal is gaining some momentum,” Cascos said.