Representative drops proposal to deny city contracts to border wall contractors

City Rep. Peter Svarzbein deleted an item on Tuesday’s City Council agenda calling for discussion on prohibiting city of El Paso funds to be awarded to contractors and vendors who receive federal contracts related to the construction of the proposed border wall.

Svarzbein said he deleted the item after speaking to the city attorney.

One man spoke out against the idea during the public comment portion of the council meeting.

“This proposal is not only illegal or immoral, but also discriminating and profiling,” the man said. “The city would incur legal fees due to many lawsuits as the result of your proposal if passed.”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said that it intends to issue solicitations for contractors and vendors beginning this week.

Svarzbein said El Paso already has a border wall.

“This wall will fortify the misconceptions about life here on the border. And I find it hard to justify our president’s claims of Mexico bringing in crime to the United States when El Paso is one of the safest cities of its size,” Svarzbein said.

Svarzbein said the estimated $16 billion that the border wall will cost will be better spent elsewhere since there is already a border fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.

“The money could be best served fortifying the security and enhancing the technology along our ports of entry,” Svarzbein said.

Svarzbein said his goal was to get people talking about the issue.

Rep. Emma Acosta said her office received email and calls from people who are for and against Svarzbein’s agenda item.

“I think the issue needs to be talked about. I think the issue needs to go out to Washington. It’s a good discussion,” Acosta said.

Svarzbein said his office is organizing a community meeting to talk about the border wall later this month at San Jacinto Plaza. The exact date is not yet known.

The El Paso Association of Builders and the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce both said Svarzbein’s proposal is not business friendly and may not be legal.

“I believe this is restraint of trade,” Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Richard Dayoub told ABC-7. “With all due respect to Rep. Svarzbein, I don’t see the logic in the process. We certainly will be there to speak in opposition to it. We feel like it is candidly a waste of everyone’s energy and time to focus on something like this.”

“If they were to pass something like that, what message are they sending to Austin in terms of the issue of sanctuary cities? I think this is picking a fight you don’t need to pick, and by the way, you can’t win.”