Border security support
The security of our border with Mexico is not a Republican or Democrat issue, it’s a matter of national security and respecting the laws of this country. So when President Donald Trump decided to deploy troops to our border to ensure our security, our local representatives should applaud his efforts to keep us safe.
However, that’s not the case. U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Mcallen, stated: “its the wrong approach and unwarranted, given that cities on the border are already among the safest in the nation.” One has to wonder if Congressman Gonzalez has our best interests in mind, considering that most of the violence in the Rio Grande Valley is drug/cartel related. Not to mention the drug and gang turf wars across the border in Reynosa, Mexico.
Joining him in criticizing our president’s efforts to secure our border, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, said: “what the president fails to understand is that deploying troops to secure a border and constructing a 14th century concrete wall, are outdated and inadequate answers to protecting our nations borders.”
Congressmen Gonzalez and Cuellar: Your constituents are not stupid. We know what is going on in the RGV border. Maybe deploying troops to our border is not the right thing to do, but it sends a message to lawbreakers that we are a nation of laws. I applaud President Trump, Gov. Greg Abbott and local law enforcement for trying to uphold our current laws and for making our safety a priority.
Ileana Vicinaiz, Palmhurst
Sen. Cruz rally criticized
I read your article this week on U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’ re-election campaign stop in the Rio Grande Valley, as I had attended this rally to evaluate the candidate. I received private notice of the campaign launch, and since it was in Edinburg, I thought I would attend. However, I had to register prior to the event for admittance. I found the location of the event, at a Border Patrol near Trenton Road, where I had to provide identification to gain admittance to a small hall three-quarters full.
I waited along with the crowd before Sen. Cruz appeared. Upon arriving, he was introduced by the NBPC president who proceeded to tell a joke that sounded to me like gender-bashing of female Border Patrol candidates. Then, I listened to the senator give accolades to the agency of whom the majority so richly deserve. Next came the comments on how assault rifles are necessary to protect our communities, and I recall that in education we now have active shooter scenario workshops.
So, at this point, I started to compare my experience with a campaign rally for Beto O’Rourke who I saw at the Echo Hotel in Edinburg in February. There were advertisements for an open town hall meeting where O’Rourke would address the community. There were tough questions asked by the attendees including from a Dreamer and another from an educator but he answered all directly and with sincerity.
So, here we have the contrasts, our incumbent Sen. Cruz holding closed-door campaigns at Border Patrol buildings in our RGV community, and the challenger Congressman Beto O’Rourke utilizing town hall meetings and no PAC money to connect to the people.
Diane Teter, Edinburg
