Politics
Politics news from McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley.
PoliticsEdinburg’s Lozano Reappointed as Presiding Officer of Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority
Texas Border Business AUSTIN | EDINBURG, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott reappointed Robert L. Lozano as the presiding officer of the Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority (RMA) for a term set to expire on February 1, 2028. The RMA is a political subdivision created to finance, acquire, design, construct, operate, maintain, expand, or extend transportation projects. Robert
PoliticsCourt Blocks Mail Delivery of Abortion Pill Mifepristone
A federal appeals court has restricted access to one of the most common abortion methods in the United States by blocking the mail delivery of mifepristone prescriptions. A panel from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, based in New Orleans, ruled that the abortion pill must be distributed exclusively in person at clinics. The decision states, 'Each abortion facilitated by the FDA's action nullifies Louisiana's ban on medical abortions and undermines its policy that every unborn child is a human being from the moment of conception and therefore a legal person.'
PoliticsJudge bars DSHS from enforcing new hemp rules, sets late July trial date
A temporary injunction has been granted to the Texas hemp industry, delaying the enforcement of four new rules issued by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The rules include changing the definition of total Delta-9 THC to include THCA, banning the transport of hemp across state lines, increasing licensing fees for manufacturers, growers, and retailers, and treating each day of DSHS rule violations as a unique violation. The hemp industry has raised concerns over the THC definition change and increased fees, which they claim would ban intoxicating smokable hemp products and run hemp producers and retailers out of business.
PoliticsTrump Says He Doesn't Need Congressional Authorization for War Against Iran
On Friday, President Donald Trump sent letters to Congress explaining that, due to the ongoing ceasefire, he does not require their authorization to conduct military operations in Iran, even though the conflict reached the 60-day mark this week. 'On April 7, 2026, I ordered a two-week ceasefire. Since then, the ceasefire has been extended. There has been no exchange of fire between U.S. forces and Iran since April 7, 2026. The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have ceased,' Trump wrote in the letters, one addressed to the House of Representatives and the other to the Senate. 'Despite the success of U.S. operations against the Iranian regime and ongoing efforts to secure lasting peace, the threat posed by Iran to the United States and our Armed Forces remains significant,' the president added in the letter, promising to keep Congressional leaders informed about future developments in Iran.
PoliticsProtests Called in the U.S. for May Day Against Trump Policies
Activists worldwide will participate in May Day demonstrations on Friday, demanding peace, higher wages, and better working conditions, as many face rising energy costs and reduced purchasing power tied to the conflict with Iran. May Day is a public holiday in many countries, and protests—some of which have turned violent in the past—are expected in major cities across the globe. 'Workers refuse to bear the cost of Donald Trump's war in the Middle East,' said the European Trade Union Confederation, representing 93 labor organizations across 41 European nations. 'Today's demonstrations show that workers will not stand idly by as their jobs and living standards are destroyed.' In the United States, activists opposing Trump’s policies are organizing marches and boycotts.
PoliticsTrump Signs Order to Expand Access to Retirement Plans: Here's What It Means
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday calling for the creation of a new government website where U.S. residents can find and compare private-sector retirement savings accounts. The goal is to support millions of workers whose employers do not offer retirement plans. The order aims to help more people access retirement plans before next year, when the federal government will begin matching retirement contributions made by low-income workers. This initiative does not introduce a new government retirement plan but seeks to connect workers with existing plans offered by private companies.
PoliticsIVP+ Border county judges ask DHS for more coordination, better communication
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — In late April, all 14 county judges representing the entire Texas-Mexico border sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security and its recently appointed Secretary Markwayne Mullin. The judges requested continued coordination between themselves and DHS. The letter, addressed to DHS Secretary Mullin, recognized the progress that has been made
PoliticsCuellar Commends Reopening of DHS and Back Pay for Personnel
“I welcome this long-overdue, bipartisan step to reopen DHS and make sure our workforce receives the pay they earned." --Congressman Cuellar. Image for illustration purposes
PoliticsSupreme Court hollows out a landmark law that had protected minority voting rights for 6 decades
La Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos emitió un fallo que reduce significativamente el alcance de una ley clave que durante más de 60 años ha sido fundamental para proteger los derechos de voto de las minorías. Este cambio podría tener un impacto importante en las próximas elecciones y en la representación de comunidades minoritarias en el proceso democrático.
PoliticsValley DACA recipient detained again after ICE deported him, then allowed his return
Un joven del Valle del Río Grande, beneficiario del programa DACA, fue detenido nuevamente por autoridades de inmigración después de haber sido deportado previamente por ICE y posteriormente autorizado a regresar al país. El caso ha generado preocupación entre la comunidad local y defensores de los derechos de los inmigrantes, quienes cuestionan las acciones de las autoridades y su impacto en los beneficiarios de DACA.
PoliticsHouse approves bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security and end the record shutdown
La Cámara de Representantes aprobó un proyecto de ley destinado a financiar el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional y terminar con el cierre gubernamental más largo en la historia de Estados Unidos. La medida busca restaurar las operaciones y servicios afectados por la paralización, que ha dejado a miles de empleados federales sin pago durante semanas.
PoliticsOnce thriving, Laredo growth stalls under Trump immigration crackdown
La ciudad fronteriza de Laredo, que alguna vez experimentó un crecimiento económico dinámico, ahora enfrenta desafíos significativos debido a las estrictas políticas de inmigración implementadas durante la administración de Donald Trump. Empresarios locales y residentes han señalado una disminución en el comercio y la actividad económica, atribuyendo el estancamiento a las restricciones que han afectado el flujo de personas y bienes en la región.
PoliticsGovernor’s Statement On Camp Mystic Closure
Texas Border Business AUSTIN — Governor Greg Abbott released the following statement after Camp Mystic announced it has withdrawn its renewal application for the 2026 camp season: “Our hearts are with the families who lost loved ones and those recovering from last year’s devastating Fourth of July floods,” said Governor Abbott. “Camp Mystic has withdrawn
PoliticsNew Task Force Roadmap Outlines Steps to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias
The Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias published a report detailing how the Biden Administration’s prosecutions, policies, and practices revealed deep-seated anti-Christian bias throughout the federal government. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) worked closely with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to coordinate this intense review
PoliticsSheinbaum Responds to U.S. Over Governor's Case, Says Lack of Evidence Points to Political Motives
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum firmly responded Thursday to U.S. drug trafficking accusations against Rubén Rocha Moya, the governor of Sinaloa, stating that the decision on how to proceed would rest with Mexico's Attorney General's Office. She emphasized that if no clear evidence is presented, the case appears to be politically motivated. Speaking during her morning press conference, Sheinbaum asserted that any legal action, including extradition, would require 'irrefutable evidence' and must comply with Mexican jurisdiction. She warned against foreign interference in Mexico's internal affairs. The accusations, announced in New York, implicate Rocha Moya and nine other Mexican officials in alleged drug trafficking and illegal arms possession linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. Rocha Moya, a key ally of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, categorically denied the allegations, calling them baseless and politically driven. The case has heightened tensions between Mexico and the U.S., with Sheinbaum drawing parallels to previous incidents, such as the 2020 detention and subsequent release of former Defense Secretary Salvador Cienfuegos. Mexico's Foreign Ministry confirmed receiving extradition requests but noted insufficient evidence provided by U.S. authorities. The Attorney General's Office stated it would review the case thoroughly, emphasizing that extradition requires substantial proof under Mexican law.
PoliticsCantu and Palacios Outline Employment and Education Strategies for Justice Impacted Individuals
Hidalgo County Commissioner Eduardo Eddie Cantu and Hidalgo County District Attorney Terry Palacios spoke during panel discussions on April 28, 2026, at the McAllen Convention Center Ballroom
PoliticsCongress Approves DHS Funding Bill, Excludes Funds for ICE and Border Patrol
WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives on Thursday approved a funding bill, previously passed by the Senate, to finance much of the Department of Homeland Security, ending the record-breaking 75-day administrative shutdown of this vast federal agency. President Donald Trump had urged lawmakers to pass the bill and promised to sign it into law. The bill will allow DHS to reopen without providing new funds for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the U.S. Border Patrol, as Democrats push for changes to immigration enforcement policies. Republicans plan to seek funding for these agencies separately. The House's action came just ahead of a critical deadline. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin had warned lawmakers that if funds were not approved by Thursday, emergency funding would run out, leaving thousands of workers unpaid.
PoliticsHouse Votes on Foreign Surveillance Program and Paves Way to End DHS Shutdown
WASHINGTON — The Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted Wednesday to renew a powerful foreign surveillance program and approved a measure already passed by the Senate to advance funding for ICE and the Border Patrol for the remainder of President Donald Trump's term. The House voted 235-191 in favor of extending the surveillance program, known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which is set to expire this week. Later, lawmakers voted 215-211, largely along party lines, to approve the Republican budget resolution previously passed by the Senate, after a rebellion by House Republicans over an unrelated farm bill delayed the final vote by more than five hours. When asked to describe the chaotic day in one word, Representative Jim McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts, responded, 'A damn mess.' The successful budget vote could unlock the Republican support needed to fund the Department of Homeland Security, which has been shut down for a record 74 days due to Democrats' demands for reforms to the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement tactics.
PoliticsMission repeals car wash moratorium following termination of federal lawsuit
La ciudad de Mission ha decidido levantar la moratoria que prohibía la apertura de nuevos autolavados, luego de que se resolviera una demanda federal en su contra. Esta decisión marca el fin de una disputa legal que había limitado el desarrollo de este tipo de negocios en la zona.