Five Texas border mayors, county judge welcome Pres. Trump’s visit to Hidalgo County

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) — Mayors of five Texas border towns and a county judge say they welcome President Donald Trump’s visit to the region this Thursday.

Mayors Pete Saenz (Laredo), Jim Darling (McAllen), Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez (Pharr), Sergio Coronado (Hidalgo) and Armando O’Cana (Mission), along with Hidalgo County judge Richard Cortez say in a letter sent to the White House Tuesday afternoon that they offered to personally host the president on a tour of the McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge, Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge or the Anzalduas International Bridge.

“We, along with border residents share a concern for border security and stand with the brave U.S. Customs and Border Protection men and women who continue to protect our nation every day,” the elected officials wrote. “Our officers and their facilities are stretched thin, face an overwhelming opponent in the international drug cartels, and deserve all the support you may be able to offer.”

The group additionally says the current border facilities can not handle the traffic flow of economic activity coming into the United States from Mexico, with long wait times costing the American economy millions of dollars.

The group, calling itself the Texas Border Coalition, says Customs and Border Protection currently faces a $4 billion deficit in needed improvements at the land ports of entry for things like updating screening and scanning technology, expanding physical processing capacity and to hire more inspectors.

President Trump is expected to address the nation Tuesday night at 8 p.m. CT on border security.  The president is expected to be in Hidalgo County Thursday.