Politics
Politics news from McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley.
PoliticsInside Valley Politics: NRCC to spend big in Valley elections, Gina Hinojosa calls for suspension of state gas tax
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — It was a tale of two school bonds in the May 2 election. McAllen ISD voters approved the district's $335 million bond proposition. While voters in Sharyland voted down the three bond proposals on the ballot by significant margins. The Republican and Democratic parties are poised to make big investments in
PoliticsTransportation Secretary Defends His New Road Trip Reality Show
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is launching a controversial road trip reality series titled "The Great American Road Trip" on YouTube, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States. The show features Duffy, his wife Rachel Campos-Duffy, and their nine children traveling across the country. Critics have voiced concerns over the insensitivity of the project, especially as gas prices have surged to over $4.50 per gallon. Duffy claims that production costs are covered by a nonprofit organization and not taxpayers. However, questions remain about potential conflicts of interest due to corporate sponsors that his department regulates.
PoliticsIran Responds to Latest US Ceasefire Proposal
President Donald Trump rejected Iran's response to the U.S. ceasefire proposal, calling it 'totally unacceptable.' Iran aims to end the war on multiple fronts, including in Lebanon, where Israel is fighting Hezbollah. The U.S. proposal included terms to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and address Iran's nuclear program, which Tehran prefers to discuss later. Tensions escalated with drone incidents in the region, leading to accusations against Iran. The U.S. military has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports since April, while Iran claims to be prepared to defend its nuclear sites. Both sides remain at a stalemate amid ongoing hostilities.
PoliticsU.S. Considers Suspending Gas Tax Amid Rising Prices
The U.S. government is considering a temporary suspension of the federal gasoline tax in response to rising fuel prices due to the ongoing conflict with Iran. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that the White House is open to freezing the tax to alleviate consumer costs. The federal tax includes 18.3 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24.3 cents for diesel. Currently, gasoline prices have surged to an average of $4.52 per gallon, a 50% increase since the conflict began. Many Americans are adjusting their driving habits and household budgets due to these rising costs, according to a recent Washington Post survey.
PoliticsMichael Fallek Wins McAllen District 5 Special Election
Michael Fallek has won the special election for McAllen's District 5, securing 573 votes, which is 50.13% of the total ballots cast. The unofficial results, announced on May 9, indicate that no runoff election will be necessary. Felida Villarreal followed with 411 votes (35.96%), while Mark Murray received 159 votes (13.91%). Fallek expressed gratitude for the support he received and emphasized his readiness to serve the community. Villarreal congratulated Fallek and reaffirmed her commitment to McAllen, stating that she will continue to be involved in community service despite the election results.
PoliticsMcAllen commission election finalized, Fallek wins seat
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) - The city of McAllen says the special election it held recently to fill the District 5 commission seat is finalized. Officials say they completed the count of all early voting, election day, provisional ballots, and mail-in ballots. As he did last Saturday, Michael Fallek received the most votes at 573. Since
PoliticsTxDOT seeks public input for Texas-Mexico border transport plan
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Texas Department of Public Transportation is seeking input from the public on its Border Transportation Master Plan. According to TxDOT, the Border Transportation Master Plan was created to guide long-term decisions affecting the safety and travel of border communities. Additionally, the BTMP plans to help Texas and Mexico improve border
PoliticsFamilies Seek to Turn the World Cup in Mexico into a Protest for the Disappeared
MEXICO CITY – Amid preparations for the 2026 World Cup in Mexico City, families of missing persons are organizing protests to highlight a national crisis they claim has been ignored, originating from the same area where President Claudia Sheinbaum's political career was established. In Tlalpan, in the southern part of the capital, while authorities finalize operations and logistics to welcome thousands of visitors for the soccer tournament, families of young people who have disappeared are coming together through search flyers, meetings with officials, and support networks built from similar cases. Parents are preparing peaceful protests starting from the opening match at Estadio Banorte, better known as Azteca, on June 11, along with letters addressed to embassies to warn about security risks that they say could also affect tourists. 'We want the world to see (…) that while they celebrate World Cup matches inside, we are outside mourning the disappearance of a loved one,' explained Vanessa Gamez to EFE, who has been searching for her daughter Ana Amelí García Gámez, missing at the age of 19 for the past nine months. The searching mother believes that for the government, 'finding the disappeared is not a priority' and rejected the official narrative that minimizes cases as voluntary absences or automatically links them to criminal activities.
PoliticsPalmview city manager resigns after 7 years
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — After serving for more than seven years, Palmview City Manager Michael Leo has stepped down from his position. According to a spokesperson for the city of Palmview, Leo's last day will be May 29, which has also been officially designated as "Mr. Michael Leo's Day" in Palmview. The decision was announced
PoliticsICE Releases Parents of Young Man with Terminal Cancer; They Are Now on Their Way to Reunite with Him in Mexico
NOGALES – The parents of Kevin González, a young man with terminal cancer, have been released by ICE after spending several days detained at the Florence detention center in Arizona. Around noon on May 8, Isidoro González Avilés and Norma Anabel Ramírez Amaya crossed the border at Nogales and could arrive in Durango later today. "I love him very much," Ramírez Amaya told Telemundo Arizona in a message to her son. In January, Kevin was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, and the disease has spread throughout his body. According to doctors, there are no treatment options left, and his time is limited.
PoliticsDe la Cruz Opens 2026 Campaign Headquarters in Weslaco
Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz inaugurated her 2026 campaign headquarters in Weslaco on May 7, located at 1501 W Business 83. The event included the Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer by Pastor Garza, and speeches from local Republican leaders. De La Cruz emphasized her campaign priorities, such as border security, economic affordability, and water rights for South Texas farmers, linking her agenda to that of former President Trump. She described her election as a turning point for South Texas, advocating for working families and encouraging supporters to mobilize for the upcoming election.
PoliticsUS Begins Review of 53 Mexican Consulates That Could Lead to Closures, Officials Say
The U.S. government has begun a review of the 53 Mexican consulates in the country, which could lead to some closures, according to a State Department official. No reasons for the review were provided, nor its implications, but it may heighten tensions between the two neighboring nations. The review comes amid increased U.S. involvement in Latin America under President Trump, including military operations and sanctions. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has sought to maintain a strong relationship with Trump while addressing organized crime. The Mexican consulates play a crucial role in assisting Mexican citizens in the U.S. with legal and identification needs.
PoliticsJustice Department targets slow immigration judges as Trump pushes faster deportations
The Justice Department is focusing on removing immigration judges deemed too slow or not compliant with the law, according to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. This initiative is part of the Trump administration's broader strategy to address a backlog of 3.7 million immigration cases and expedite deportations. Blanche spoke at the Border Security Expo in Phoenix, emphasizing that judges must apply the law without bias. Critics argue that the administration is undermining due process in immigration courts, prioritizing speed over fairness. The department is also hiring new judges and pursuing denaturalization cases more aggressively than in the past.
PoliticsHarlingen mayor delivers state of the city address
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The City of Harlingen is hosting its annual State of the City Address this evening to speak on key updates for the metropolitan area. The address will be delivered by Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda, who is anticipated to talk about the future of the city's growth and accomplishments. This year's theme,
PoliticsTexas AG investigating Brownsville, McAllen ISD over Ten Commandments display, prayer policies
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is launching an investigation into more than 20 independent school districts across the state, including two in the Rio Grande Valley, to ensure the Ten Commandments are being displayed in classrooms and obeying Texas law, Paxton announced on Thursday. The Brownsville Independent School District and McAllen
PoliticsBorder buoys going up in Rio Grande in Laredo, official says
The federal government has began installing waterborne buoys in the Rio Grande in Laredo, Texas, to stop immigration from Mexico, Laredo City Councilwoman Melissa Cigarroa said on Border Report Live.
PoliticsAgainst Time: Parents to be Deported to Fulfill Son's Last Wish Amid Cancer Battle
In a heartbreaking situation, Kevin González, a young man from Chicago with terminal cancer, is closer to fulfilling his last wish: to see his parents one last time. A federal judge ordered the expedited deportation of his parents, Norma Anabel and Isidoro González, so they can travel to Mexico and reunite with their son, who is currently in Durango with his grandmother. The news, which Kevin had been waiting for weeks, arrived while he remains bedridden in Durango, Mexico. 'Very happy,' said Kevin González. His grandmother, Virginia Amaya, described the emotional shift upon hearing the court's decision. 'Very happy. At first, I cried out of sadness, now out of happiness,' said Amaya. While Kevin waited in Mexico, his parents appeared before a federal court in Tucson, Arizona, where they pleaded guilty to illegally entering the country. During the hearing, the young man's father tearfully implored the judge to send them to Mexico to be with their son.
PoliticsFederal Court Rules Against New Global Tariffs Imposed by Trump After Supreme Court Setback
A federal court ruled on Thursday against the new global tariffs that President Donald Trump imposed following a painful defeat in the Supreme Court. In response to a lawsuit filed by small businesses, a divided panel of three judges from the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York determined that the 10% global tariffs were illegal. In a 2-1 decision, the court found that Trump exceeded the tariff powers granted to the president by Congress under the law. The tariffs are 'invalid' and 'not authorized by law,' the majority wrote. The third judge on the panel determined that the law grants the president greater leeway on tariffs. If the government appeals Thursday's decision, as expected, it will first have to go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, and could ultimately reach the Supreme Court. The dispute centers around the temporary 10% global tariffs imposed by the Trump administration after the Supreme Court invalidated even broader double-digit tariffs that the president imposed last year on nearly all countries. The new tariffs, invoked under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, were set to expire on July 24.
PoliticsUS to Revoke Passports for Parents with Child Support Debt
HOUSTON – The U.S. State Department will begin revoking the U.S. passports of thousands of parents who owe significant amounts in unpaid child support. According to The Associated Press, the revocations could start as soon as this Friday and will focus on those who owe $100,000 or more. Individuals whose passports are revoked for this reason will be notified that they cannot use this document for travel. Once they pay the owed amount, they will need to apply for a new passport.