• The construction of a fence in this region would directly impact critical wildlife habitat for endangered species such as the ocelot, and block the area's only reliable source of water for wildlife, the Rio Grande.
• Devastate national wildlife refuges of international importance, such as the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge and the Santa Ana NWR and restrict access to key birding hot spots along the Rio Grande.
• Adversely affect over 280 species of birds, mammals, and other wildlife on the Sabal Palm Audubon Sanctuary in Brownsville, located in one of the rarest and most endangered ecosystems in America and recognized as an Important Bird Area. Jeopardize the environmental education efforts of the center, which reaches 10,000 children and families each year.
• Impact numerous Important Bird Areas along the border including the Tijuana River Reserve in San Diego that hosts endangered bird species such as the Light-Footed Clapper Rail, Belding's Savannah Sparrow, and Least Bell's Vireo.
• Cripple the economic value of the area's thriving ecotourism industry. Nearly 200,000 tourists visit this area every year to view rare birds and other wildlife, and pump an estimated $150 million into otherwise impoverished communities.

Conservation groups have said the current design amounts to an impenetrable concrete wall that would prevent wildlife from migrating and fragment habitat. Among the 30-some laws being waived are the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.

According to Audubon President John Flicker, "The administration is effectively putting America on notice that it will ignore even the gravest concerns about the border wall. The Department of Homeland Security waiver is breathtaking in its scope. It waives nearly all legal requirements that would apply to anyone else. This decision will cost America dearly, especially when the benefits of the misguided border fence remain uncertain.

The DHS decision to abandon U.S. laws to construct a border fence will jeopardize the economy, quality of life and beauty of south Texas. They are insisting that we close our eyes and minds to the risks to unique wildlife and ecosystems, as well as the communities that depend on them."

Find out more about border wildlife species such as the CACTUS FERRUGINOUS PGYMY OWL, JAGUAR, and SONORAN PRONGHORN in an Audubon magazine web exclusive.