MCALLEN (WBAP/KLIF) – President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit McAllen Thursday, less than 48 hours after he addressed the nation about what he called a crisis at the southern border.
The partial government shutdown continues as the President heads to Texas a day before many federal employees will miss their first paychecks. The Trump administration said earlier this week that the President will “meet with those on the frontlines of the national security and humanitarian crisis.”
Senator’s Ted Cruz and John Cornyn will join the President in McAllen. Senator Cornyn said Wednesday he will host a round table discussion Thursday with local leaders about the current border debate. The Senator also invited Scott Luck, Deputy Chief of U.S. Border Patrol, who will attend to listen to local feedback along with David Higgerson, Director of Field Operations at U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) represents a large portion of South Texas, including McAllen, and said Wednesday that a border wall isn’t the answer to troubles at the border.
“It has come to my attention that President Donald J. Trump intends to visit the U.S.-Mexico Border on Thursday. Let me remind the president that McAllen, Texas, a border city, has experienced some of the lowest crime rates in 30 years,” Gonzalez said.
The Congressman agreed that more needs to be done to secure the nation’s borders. But said there are 7,500 open positions with Customs and Border Protection that have not been filled, and that this should be a top priority.
Opinions of Texans living in the Rio Grande Valley about a proposed border wall vary.
“I don’t think it’s necessary because we’ve been dealing with a busy border for years,” said one Mission, Texas resident.
“The border wall would bring a lot of jobs to the valley and for that reason I think it would be beneficial to our area,” said a life long Hidalgo County man.
It’s unknown how many stops the President will make Thursday afternoon in the Rio Grande Valley, but many local leaders are grateful for an open discussion with the President and Senator’s Cruz and Cornyn.
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