Where it's needed, fencing will have to build on the north side of the river. And if that disrupts some ranches and businesses, then the priority has to become the US-Mexico border, not local interests.
Anyone who thinks our border shouldn't be protected because a ranch needs water from the river is a big part of the problem.
What happens in Vegas might stay in Vegas, but what happens on the border definitely does not stay on the border. It spreads like a cancer through all the continental US and maybe beyond.
If enforcing the border is left to border politicians, it will never be enforced. There is more than ample evidence of that already.
A ranching economy based on, say, 10,000 A. ranches and river access as their only source of water wouldn't take kindly to being fenced off from the river. This describes a lot of Texas border counties.
Understand that ranchers don't like illegals traipsing across their property, trashing it out...and shooting at them...either.
Please understand that, in Texas, the situation is not the same as it is in California, Arizona and New Mexico -- simply because of geography.
In the cities, there is a fence along the river. Along with a battalion of Border Patrol vehicles and personnel. Illegals don't swim the river between El Paso and Juarez. Because they can walk thru a border crossing gate that allows maybe a million legal crossings a day.
Then, they can disappear into El Paso...and get transport to anywhere in the USA. Border control thru the cities is then exercised on the highways exiting El Paso -- perhaps 50 miles out. Most border cities are located in desolate territory and highway access is relatively limited and controllable. Far from perfect -- but the only practical solution when the two cities are wed together commercially. Cut off access between El Paso and Juarez...and both cities would die economically.
I'm taking the time to explain all this to you because you're obviously unaware of exactly what the border conditions are in Texas. And that, while most Texans want the border secured, like you, building a fence isn't necessarily the best way to achieve that security.
Instead, why don't we consider why people are coming across the border? e-verify and a more aggressive policing of employment practices would go a long way toward stemming the traffic. As would federal, state and local cooperation on enforcing immigration law (a la Arizona). Plus, a policy of denying welfare money and government services to illegal aliens.
In all cases, effective border security is dependent upon a federal government that has some interest in performing its duties under the Constitution. A simple 180 degree change in federal policy would have a far greater impact than 2000 miles of fencing.