Trump Administration May Extend Border Wall in Texas Town, Judge Says

A federal judge has ruled that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can proceed with plans to build a section of border wall in Presidio, Texas, despite local concerns about potential flooding. The decision, announced on Sunday, is seen as a win for the Trump administration's $46 billion border wall initiative. Presidio, a town of about 3,200 residents, argued that the wall could compromise flood protection levees. However, the judge dismissed these concerns, stating that the arguments were unlikely to succeed in court. The DHS continues to push forward with construction plans, aiming to have a first phase completed by next year.

IVP: Gov. Abbott visits on affordability tour, Rep. Gonzalez talks NDAA vote, reelection

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Gov. Greg Abbott visited the Valley as part of his Affordability Agenda Initiative tour. At a pharmacy in Mission, Abbott announced his intention to introduce legislation capping the cost of inhalers and epinephrine at $25 per month. The proposal builds on a 2021 law that placed the same limit on insulin.

Abbott Directs Comprehensive Data Center Audit

Governor Abbott has instructed the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to conduct a thorough audit of all data centers seeking to connect to the Texas grid. This audit must be completed before any project can proceed. Abbott emphasized that projects not meeting PUCT and ERCOT requirements will be denied connection. Currently, ERCOT is reviewing over 474 gigawatts of connection requests, with 90% coming from data centers. The audit will assess financial independence, power sourcing, water usage, community impact, and project ownership details.

Vice President cancels Port of Brownsville trip as Energy Secretary plans visit

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Vice President JD Vance canceled his visit to the Rio Grande Valley, but now another Cabinet member will come instead. The U.S. Department of Energy announced Monday morning that Secretary Chris Wright would visit the Port of Brownsville on Tuesday afternoon. The vice president canceled his visit to South Texas due

Brownsville Considers Temporarily Halting New Data Centers While Reviewing Regulations

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — The City of Brownsville is considering a temporary 90-day moratorium on new applications related to data centers while it develops specific regulations for such projects. This proposal comes after a company withdrew its application to build a data center on Padre Island Highway. Although that project will not move forward for now, city officials believe new proposals may arise in the future. According to a public notice, the City Commission will hold two public hearings to discuss the potential moratorium, which would temporarily suspend the approval of new projects, expansions, and permits related to data centers. Commissioner Nurith Galonsky explained that the goal is to establish clear rules before evaluating future applications. 'We will continue the conversation to form a policy and get ahead, so that when a data center application is presented again, we already have the requirements in place,' she stated. The proposal aims to give the city time to review and strengthen its zoning and urban development regulations before approving projects considered high intensity. Galonsky indicated that officials assume the city will continue to receive such applications. 'We assume this will not be the last application we receive. It has been said that there are other companies interested in building data centers,' she added. Meanwhile, activists believe that the withdrawal of the application does not end the debate over the environmental impact of these facilities. Activist Dr. Christopher Basaldu called for companies to clearly report how many resources they would consume before their projects are approved. 'The community must demand that these companies inform exactly how much water, how much energy, and how much electricity they will consume. We need that environmental information,' he asserted. The moratorium proposal will be presented to the Brownsville City Commission on August 4. If it moves forward, it will undergo public hearings before a final decision is made.

Vice President to visit Port of Brownsville

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Vice President J.D. Vance is making his first visit to the Rio Grande Valley. Port of Brownsville officials confirm to ValleyCentral that Vance will visit the port on Tuesday around noon. The event will be held at the at port and is open to the public. More details about the vice president's

South Texas mayors convene in Edinburg for regional meeting

Edinburg hosted the South Texas Alliance of Cities on Friday, gathering mayors from various Rio Grande Valley cities along with representatives from Laredo and San Antonio. The meeting aimed to address regional priorities such as drainage, transportation, and economic development. Edinburg Mayor Omar Ochoa emphasized the importance of aligning efforts ahead of the upcoming legislative session in January 2027. Discussions also included border security, higher education, and workforce development. A city spokesperson noted that the quarterly meeting featured a closed legislative roundtable and tours of regional assets, including Border Patrol and UTRGV.

Cameron County gets presidential permit to own B & M International Bridge

Cameron County has received a presidential permit granting it 50% ownership of the B&M International Bridge, which connects Brownsville and Matamoros. This approval is seen as a significant advancement for international trade and border infrastructure, according to County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr. The bridge sees over 500,000 crossings monthly, and officials hope to reduce wait times for commuters. The county has also reached a stock purchase agreement with Union Pacific regarding the bridge. With the new permit, Cameron County aims to collaborate with U.S. Customs to enhance traveler programs and implement advanced technology for smoother crossings. The bridge is expected to generate an additional $7 million in revenue.

Cameron County Commissioners to consider raising county beach park access and RV site fees

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas (ValleyCentral) — South Padre Island beachgoers may soon be paying more to access Cameron County beach parks. At a meeting next week, Cameron County commissioners will consider a proposal for a new fee schedule. It currently costs $12 for a day pass for county beach parks, with some accesses offering a

Cameron County granted Presidential Permit to own, operate Brownsville and Matamoros Bridge

Cameron County has received a presidential permit granting it 50% ownership of the Brownsville and Matamoros Bridge, also known as the B&M International Bridge. This approval is seen as a significant advancement for international trade and border infrastructure modernization, according to County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr. The bridge sees over 500,000 crossings monthly, and the county aims to reduce wait times by collaborating with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The county expects to generate an additional $7 million from this bridge, complementing the $2.5 million from its existing bridges. Agreements with Mexico are anticipated to be finalized soon.

Cuellar and Gonzalez Call for Legal Workforce Solutions at South Texas Builders Forum

During the South Texas Builders Association forum in Edinburg, U.S. Representatives Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez emphasized the need for bipartisan solutions to address workforce shortages and immigration reform in the construction industry. Gonzalez highlighted that immigrants represent about 30% of construction workers nationwide and proposed the Safe American Workforce Act to provide legal work authorization for long-term residents. Cuellar advocated for expanding the H-2B visa program to help local employers. Both lawmakers stressed the importance of collaboration to tackle these issues and pledged to support initiatives aimed at improving workforce training in partnership with local educational institutions.

Cameron County receives Presidential Permit to own, operate and maintain B&M Bridge

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Cameron County has been granted a Presidential Permit authorizing the county to own, operate and maintain the Brownsville and Matamoros Bridge. The county received an official notification that the permit had been granted on Thursday, according to a news release from Judge Trevino. On Oct. 7, 2025, the County Commissioners' Court

Venezuelan Man Detained Again After Coming to the U.S. to Donate Kidney to His Brother

José Gregorio Pacheco, a Venezuelan man who came to the United States to donate a kidney to his brother and save his life, was detained again by immigration agents and remains in custody while facing deportation proceedings. The detention occurred on July 21, when he left a supervision appointment at the immigration office in downtown Chicago. Minutes later, he texted his brother, José Alfredo Pacheco, saying, 'Brother, I love you... They are going to deport me.' José Alfredo Pacheco expressed hope that his brother would regain his freedom, stating, 'Well... sad... of course, sad... but with faith that he will get out.' José Gregorio, originally from Venezuela, arrived in the U.S. in 2024 to donate a kidney to his brother Alfredo, who was suffering from end-stage renal disease. His story touched the Chicago community. In March 2025, he was detained by immigration. A month later, after efforts from his lawyers at The Resurrection Project and community support, he obtained temporary humanitarian parole to continue with the donation process. The transplant was successfully performed, giving Alfredo a second chance at life. Since then, José Gregorio had been under electronic monitoring and, according to his lawyer, was complying with all scheduled appointments with the immigration agency. 'My brother is a good person. All he has done is help me, give me a chance at life with the kidney he gave me,' said José Alfredo Pacheco.

British Citizen Ada Ngozi Otuka Convicted of Illegal Voting in U.S. Elections

Ada Ngozi Otuka, a 63-year-old British citizen living in Katy, Texas, has pleaded guilty to illegal voting and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship. Otuka admitted to voting in the 2020 federal election despite being a lawful resident, which does not grant her voting rights. Records indicate she voted in multiple elections from 2012 to 2024. In 2025, she was notified that her voter registration was under review due to her citizenship status but did not respond. Sentencing is set for November 5, where she faces up to six years in prison and a potential fine of $250,000.

Cameron County Receives Federal Authorization to Operate the Brownsville-Matamoros Bridge

Cameron County announced that it has received a Presidential Permit authorizing it to own, operate, and maintain the Brownsville & Matamoros (B&M Bridge), a key international crossing for trade between the United States and Mexico. The authorization was granted on July 30, 2026, and will allow the county to complete the acquisition of 50% ownership of the bridge by purchasing Union Pacific Railroad's stake in the northern portion of the international crossing. The agreement was unanimously approved by the Cameron County Commissioners Court in October 2025. Once the acquisition is finalized, the county plans to invest in modernizing the bridge's infrastructure, including new toll collection technologies, improvements to inspection facilities, and increased capacity for customs processing. The goal is to enhance efficiency, strengthen security, and facilitate the flow of international trade. Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. noted that this permit represents an opportunity to strengthen international trade through modernization and greater operational efficiency at land ports of entry. He also thanked Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, as well as Congressman Vicente González, for their support in obtaining the federal authorization. Precinct 1 Commissioner Sofía C. Benavides emphasized that this achievement will strengthen the relationship between Cameron County and Mexico by generating new opportunities for trade, cultural exchange, and transportation connections between the two communities. County Administrator Pete Sepulveda Jr. stated that this agreement is the result of several years of collaboration between Cameron County, Union Pacific, and other institutions, and assured that the improvements to the bridge, along with projects like the East Loop, will reinforce the region's role as one of the main trade corridors between the two countries. Once the acquisition is formally completed, Cameron County will own and operate four international bridges, incorporating the Brownsville-Matamoros Bridge with the same safety and modernization standards already applied at its other border crossings.

ICE detains breastfeeding mother of two when she was taking them to the doctor, according to organization

A Guatemalan mother, identified as María Pérez, was arrested by ICE in Nashville, Tennessee, while taking her two young children to a medical appointment. Pérez, who is seeking asylum after fleeing extreme domestic violence, was detained despite having no criminal record. Advocacy groups have filed a civil rights complaint, arguing her arrest violated ICE policies that discourage detaining breastfeeding mothers. Since her detention, her children have been cared for by a neighbor. The complaint seeks her immediate release, highlighting the emotional toll on her family. The DHS stated that detaining lactating women is rare, but arrests have increased recently.

Teenager Left for Mass and Ended Up Detained by ICE; Her Father Was Arrested While Searching for Her

A teenager from San Antonio, identified as Emely Suaza, was detained by ICE agents while on her way to mass, according to her family. Her father was reportedly arrested when he went to look for her at a detention center. According to her mother, Anyela Chambo, the young girl left home with friends heading to the Grotto of Lourdes but was intercepted by federal agents near an H-E-B store at the intersection of Blanco and West, in an incident witnessed by bystanders. The minor's mother expressed her desperation over the detention of both her daughter and husband, stating that they are both essential to their family. The family has lived north of San Antonio for the past few years and holds work permits and driver's licenses due to an ongoing asylum case.

U.S. Minor Allegedly Forced to Cross from Texas to Mexico; Repatriation Efforts Underway

The New Mexico Attorney General is seeking to repatriate a 15-year-old U.S. citizen after state child welfare officials allegedly forced him to cross the border into Mexico to meet his mother, whom he hadn’t seen in years. The incident occurred on July 6 when the child was taken to El Paso, Texas. After crossing the border alone, he failed to find his mother and returned to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection urged New Mexico officials to retrieve him, but they reportedly refused. The child is currently in Texas custody and has been returned to his mother in Mexico despite attempts to re-enter the U.S.

Gov. Abbott heads to Mission to unveil next phase of Keep Texas Affordable agenda