Anti-immigrant congressman draws criticism during Brownsville visit
Read more: Local
Controversial statements filled the University of Texas at Brownsville campus on Tuesday in a debate over the border wall and Wednesday and students commented back.
Its finals week on the UTB campus, and as you can imagine talks have been about little more than that until word spread about what a Colorado Congressman said on campus Tuesday.
"I suggest you build this fence around the northern part of your city," Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo told Brownsville residents among to a boos and cheers.
You can hear more of his speech in our video clip, but his words that have students and staff offended.
"I think he's just ignorant," said student Alexis Fruia. "He doesn't really know where we stand here."
But as he stood on campus in the middle of a heated debate, Congressman Tacredo lashed out at border wall opponents.
"A congressman in the United States of America saying that about the same city in the USA, its just outrageous," said student Chris Martinez.
For the students and staff, his strong statements hit especially close to home.
"It might take some of our campus away and we've come a long way to have this university," explained Fitness Instructor Diana Rojas. "And that's just something that not just me, but a lot of people don't agree with it."
Fruia said the fence would complicate going to classes.
"I go to school in the education building on the other side of campus and they were saying we were going to need a passport to go to class," said Fruia.
But, despite the controversy on campus, students and staff say they're glad even those with a different viewpoint on the border wall came to their school for the hearing.
"I was glad they were here to see campus and what was going to be destroyed by this border wall," explained Martinez.
Fruia agreed.
"This is where I live, this is my background, this is my life," Fruia added. "Suggesting we're in Mexico? I live in the U.S."
Action 4 News spoke Texas State Representative Eddie Lucio III over the phone.
Lucio said while he doesn't believe they changed anyone's minds in the hearings Tuesday, he does believe that the Rio Grande Valley made a strong stand showing of unity against the border wall.
