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National news from McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley.
NationalICE Arrests Reached Nearly 50,000 in July
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested nearly 50,000 people in July, marking the highest monthly total during President Donald Trump's second term. The figure indicates that the administration has continued to push its mass deportation agenda despite a shift in focus earlier this year, moving from high-profile operations in major cities that sparked public outrage to more discreet arrests. The 49,571 arrests in July represent a 15% increase from the 43,021 in the previous month and a 70% rise from the 29,241 in February following operations in Minnesota, according to government data provided by ICE to the Deportation Data Project at the University of California, Berkeley, and analyzed by The Associated Press. The immigration arrests in the month prior to Trump's inauguration were above 8,000, largely composed of immigrants transferred from municipal or state jails and handed over to ICE for deportation. During Trump's first year in office, the numbers began to rise as the administration relaxed rules on where and whom ICE could arrest and injected billions of dollars into the agency.
NationalHow Tariffs Between the U.S. and Canada Would Affect Your Wallet
Canada has committed to responding 'dollar for dollar' to the tariffs announced by the United States amid the ongoing trade war between the two North American neighbors. Ottawa released a list on Tuesday of more than 700 products that will be subject to taxes. Starting September 8, there will be higher taxes on goods ranging from fish and cheese to smartphones and steel imported from the United States. Canada indicated that its retaliation would focus on the products 'most affected by U.S. tariffs.' The levies will be set at 15%, 25%, or 50%—rates that, according to the government, will match the U.S. tariffs on the goods targeted in the latest round from Washington, as well as on products covered by previously imposed sectoral duties. The announcement came just days after President Donald Trump's administration implemented a 50% tariff on approximately $20 billion worth of Canadian products, ranging from honey to hockey sticks. This represents only 5% of the value of goods Canada sent to the United States last year, but the punitive rate adds to a series of tariffs Trump has imposed on the country during his second term. Meanwhile, there are threats of further escalation, and therefore, businesses—and, by extension, households—on both sides of the border could soon feel the pressure. Below is a summary of some of the affected products.
NationalLive Updates: Lindsay Clancy Trial Approaches Final Stage
The trial of Lindsay Clancy, accused of murdering her three young children in Massachusetts on January 24, 2023, is nearing its conclusion. Prosecutors allege that Clancy strangled her 5-year-old, 3-year-old, and 8-month-old children using exercise bands in her basement. At 32 years old at the time of the crime, she faces charges of murder and strangulation. Her defense claims she suffered from postpartum psychosis and bipolar disorder, exacerbated by antidepressants prescribed after the birth of her third child. The court continues to hear testimonies as the prosecution presents its final arguments before moving to the next phase of the trial.
NationalMexican cattle imports restart in Arizona as screwworm cases decline
The U.S. livestock port in Douglas, Arizona, became the first along the Southwest border to reopen to Mexican cattle on Monday, but the threat of New World screwworm still remains elsewhere and that means restrictions are still in place.
NationalHow ICE Deportations Impact Your Wallet, According to a Study
HOUSTON – Deportations and immigration operations by ICE are reportedly having effects on the U.S. economy, according to a study by the organization America’s Voice that analyzes the impact of a reduction in workers across various industries. The report, titled 'The ICE Tax,' claims that sectors reliant on migrant labor have seen increases in their costs, including food, maintenance, construction, and healthcare services. Data presented in the study shows that healthcare-related costs rose by 10.7%, while gardening costs increased by 10.8%, and housing construction saw increases of up to 15.4% in some areas of the country. In Texas, the report indicates that construction contracted by 5%. According to the study, immigration measures implemented during 2025 would have resulted in the loss of approximately 668,000 jobs nationwide, with at least 51,000 of those positions held by U.S.-born workers. An economics professor at the University of Houston explained that a reduction in the workforce can decrease production and contribute to rising prices. The study refers to the 'ICE tax' as the economic cost that, according to the organization, is generated by operations and deportations across different sectors and communities in the country.
NationalLubbock Pair Faces Up to 70 Years in Prison Following Federal Ponzi Conviction
Two men from Lubbock, Joshua Allen and Michael Cox, were convicted by a federal jury in San Antonio for their involvement in a Ponzi scheme that defrauded numerous victims. They were found guilty on four counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and securities fraud. The scheme, which also involved their co-defendant Brooklynn Chandler Willy, led to millions of dollars in losses for victims, as funds were used to pay earlier investors and enrich the conspirators. Both Allen and Cox face up to 70 years in prison, with sentencing hearings yet to be scheduled.
NationalU.S. Attorney’s Office Adds Nearly 300 New Immigration Cases in Western District of Texas
From August 7 to August 13, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Texas filed 292 new immigration-related criminal cases. These cases involve charges against alien smugglers and undocumented individuals with previous convictions for driving while intoxicated, violent offenses, theft, and prior deportations. This initiative is part of Operation Take Back America, aimed at combating illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations. It emphasizes the commitment of the Department of Justice to protect communities from violent crime. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
NationalTexas to receive at least $7.5 billion from stalled border reimbursement fund, Cornyn says
WASHINGTON — Texas is set to receive $7.5 billion from a federal fund to reimburse states for border costs incurred when Joe Biden was president, Sen. John Cornyn told The Texas Tribune in an interview, shedding light for the first time on the Lone Star State’s haul more than a year after Congress authorized the
NationalSupreme Court Allows Trump to Move Forward with Measure Limiting Mail-in Voting
On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Trump administration in a case related to President Donald Trump's executive order restricting mail-in voting, although it remains unclear how much of it can be implemented before the upcoming midterm elections. The decision opens the door to new legal challenges that could further delay Trump's order, with similar cases already filed. The U.S. Postal Service explained how it would implement the order last week, but time is running out for significant changes, as some states will begin sending mail-in ballots to voters in just a few weeks. The conservative majority of the Court did not rule on the legality of Trump's order but determined that states did not have the legal standing to challenge it.
NationalTalarico discusses economy, AI during Valley visit
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — U.S. Senate hopeful Representative James Talarico visited the Valley over the weekend. The Democratic hopeful hosted a rally in Harlingen on Sunday evening for about 600 supporters at the Harlingen Convention Center Local Democratic leaders like U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D) Texas 34, and Camero County Democratic Party Chairman Jared Hockema were
NationalUS Could Revoke Up to 200,000 Tourist and Business Visas, Officials Say
The United States is preparing to revoke the business and tourist visas of up to 200,000 individuals who have applied for asylum in the country. If implemented, this would mark the largest visa revocation in U.S. history and is likely to face legal challenges. The State Department is expected to announce the revocation of the so-called B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026, held by those who have sought asylum, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press and two federal officials. The action will be coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott stated, 'We are coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke the non-immigrant visas of foreigners who have come to the U.S. claiming to be short-term visitors but then apply for asylum to stay here permanently.' Pigott declined to comment on how many visas might be revoked, noting that 'as the process is ongoing, the number of revocations remains dynamic and will occur gradually.' Officials indicated that the revocations would not necessarily lead to immediate deportation. Most individuals with pending asylum cases would be reclassified but would lose their status as business or tourist travelers, according to officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the revocations are not yet final. The U.S. government has steadily increased restrictions for visa applicants since President Donald Trump took office for a second term last year, requiring more information about their social media histories, imposing costly bonds for visa processing, and directly prohibiting visa issuance to citizens of certain countries. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticized on social media on Monday those he claimed are attempting to use tourist and business visas to enter the U.S. and then seek asylum. 'People in the U.S. and around the world are fed up with false asylum claims,' Landau wrote on X. 'Asylum should not be a loophole to evade immigration law.' Landau cited the case of a Colombian citizen who arrived in the U.S. in 2015 on a tourist visa and later applied for asylum. B1 visas are generally issued for business travel, while B2 visas are typically issued for tourism, family visits, or medical care. It was not immediately clear how many of these visa holders are currently seeking or have sought asylum in the U.S. and would be affected by the revocations. Current applicants for B1 and B2 visas are being asked to confirm that they will not seek asylum in the U.S. and to demonstrate their intention to return to their home countries. In the past 18 months, the State Department has revoked approximately 175,000 visas from individuals convicted or charged with crimes ranging from driving under the influence to rape and robbery, as well as from those who have publicly spoken out against U.S. policies, particularly in the Middle East. The U.S. has also taken steps to tighten controls against so-called 'birth tourism,' a practice that it claims is used by pregnant foreign women to travel to the U.S. to give birth, so their child obtains U.S. citizenship by birth. Trump has attempted several times to end birthright citizenship, but those attempts have been rejected by the courts, including the Supreme Court.
NationalTrump Administration Proposes $103,000 Fee for H-1B Visas Following Judicial Setback in June
The Trump administration has proposed a fee of over $100,000 for H-1B visa applications, two months after a federal judge struck down a similar increase. In a document submitted to the Federal Register, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed charging employers a fee of $103,265 when filing H-1B petitions subject to the annual cap of the program, including those qualifying for the advanced degree exemption. This fee would be in addition to the usual costs of sponsoring an H-1B worker and would generally apply to employers seeking to obtain one of the limited slots available each year for new workers. According to the document, the proposed fee would help to 'recover some of the costs of the Federal Government in managing the legal immigration system,' including activities carried out by the DHS.
NationalProsecution's rebuttal witnesses continue in Lindsay Clancy trial
Lindsay Clancy is on trial for the alleged murder of her three children, aged 5, 3, and 8 months, in Duxbury, Massachusetts, on January 24, 2023. Prosecutors claim she used exercise bands to strangle them in her home. At 32 years old at the time of the crime, Clancy faces charges of murder and strangulation. Her defense argues that she suffered from postpartum psychosis and bipolar disorder, exacerbated by antidepressants prescribed after her third child's birth. The prosecution is expected to continue presenting rebuttal witnesses on Monday, with closing arguments potentially starting this week.
NationalImmigration Detains Father of USS Abraham Lincoln Sailor, Family Says
Luis Manuel Avilés, the immigrant father of a sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, was detained by immigration agents in Key West, Florida, on Saturday. His stepdaughter, Katty Delgado, reported that Avilés has lived in the U.S. for about 20 years without any known criminal history. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the arrest during a traffic stop, stating Avilés entered the U.S. illegally and is now in ICE custody awaiting deportation proceedings. His son, Joshua, who is deployed on the USS Abraham Lincoln, expressed heartbreak over his father's situation, emphasizing his father's hard work and legal employment status.
NationalFederal judge vacates Trump policy that suspended processing of immigration visas from 75 countries
A federal judge in New York has overturned a Trump-era policy that halted visa processing for nationals from 75 countries, including Afghanistan and Iran. U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the policy, deemed unlawful and beyond the authority of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, violated the Immigration and Nationality Act by denying visas without legal justification. The ruling came after challenges from two nonprofits and 11 individuals, emphasizing the importance of family reunification. Advocates hailed the decision as a victory for the rule of law, while the State Department defended the original policy as a means to protect American citizens.
NationalWhat to know about Trump 50 % tariffs on Canadian goods that just went into effect
President Donald Trump's 50% tariffs on numerous Canadian imports took effect on Saturday after trade negotiations failed. These tariffs are expected to impact about 5% of Canada's annual exports to the U.S., totaling around $20 billion, affecting products like hockey sticks, agricultural goods, and more. In response, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced retaliatory measures starting September 8, targeting U.S. steel, dairy, and electronics. The tariffs are imposed under a 1930 law, marking a significant shift in U.S.-Canada trade relations. Experts warn that these tariffs could lead to higher prices for consumers and increased economic uncertainty.
NationalMexican Governor Accused of Drug Trafficking in the U.S. Steps Down
Rubén Rocha Moya, the governor of Sinaloa, has announced an indefinite leave from his position amid drug trafficking allegations in the United States. This decision comes just a day after he returned to office following a nearly four-month absence. In a letter posted on social media, Rocha Moya stated he would take a temporary leave without providing further details. His return had drawn criticism from various political figures, including President Claudia Sheinbaum, who emphasized that personal interests should not overshadow the needs of the people. Rocha Moya and nine other officials are accused of aiding the Sinaloa cartel in drug trafficking.
National5.9 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Japan, Injuring Over 30
A 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Japan on Sunday, affecting the Tokyo metropolitan area and injuring over 30 people, mostly with minor injuries. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported the epicenter was in Ibaraki Prefecture, at a depth of 42 miles. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the quake at 5.8 magnitude. Injuries were reported across five prefectures: 15 in Tokyo, nine in Saitama, eight in Kanagawa, four in Chiba, and one in Ibaraki. The quake caused train delays, but Shinkansen services continued normally. Authorities advised residents to remain cautious for potential aftershocks in the coming week.
NationalTrump to Make 'Honor Lap' at Freedom 250 Grand Prix
On Sunday, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump kicked off the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C., by leading a slow lap in the presidential limousine. Trump waved the green flag to start the IndyCar race, which featured cars speeding through the streets near the White House. The event is part of celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the United States. Highlights included a performance of the national anthem by tenor Christopher Macchio and military flyovers. The race was organized by IndyCar owner Roger Penske, who covered most of the costs, while the District of Columbia handled some road improvements.