Congressmen protest Texas refuge as border wall site

A group of Texas Democratic congressmen are questioning preliminary plans to build a section of President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall through a federal wildlife refuge.

Federal officials have told landowners and local officials that they intend to build on about 3 miles (nearly 5 kilometers) of the river levee that runs through the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge.

According to The Monitor newspaper , the congressmen say cutting through the refuge “could do serious environmental and economic damage,” and calling for “transparency.”

The congressmen are Joaquin Castro of San Antonio, Henry Cuellar of Laredo, Lloyd Doggett of Austin, Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen, Beto O’Rourke of El Paso, and Filemon Vela of Brownsville.

A budget proposal authorizing 60 miles of construction in South Texas has been passed by the U.S. House.