In January, the Biden administration established a commitment to modernize the U.S. Immigration System that included multiple changes to both border security and immigration policy that would affect border cities on the south and north end of the country. In Laredo, a number of community organizations and the city have not only had to continue their work during the COVID-19 pandemic but… Read more »

A year after the border first closed due to the pandemic, there are no plans in place for safely reopening the border.   Local officials and citizens have voiced concerns about the continued closure and the announcement this week that Mexico will impose travel restrictions on U.S. citizens for the first time. Rep. Henry Cuellar said the continued closures are not benefiting the… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Henry Cuellar announced $110 million in federal funds to the National Board for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP). The congressman’s news release said the supplemental funding, awarded by FEMA and distributed through the EFSP, will go to eligible local nonprofits and governmental organizations, and state government facilities that have aided,… Read more »

Victor Hernandez - owner of the restaurant Antojitos el ímperio - loves sharing his culture through food. One year into the pandemic, like most small businesses, he’s had a shortage of customers. “I thought I might have to close down for good, and look for another job,” Hernandez recalled. He’s also had a shortage of ingredients when COVID-19 restrictions on travel hit international… Read more »

Laredo, a border town in southern Texas, is being told to prepare for an influx of migrants to arrive soon, but it is still waiting on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) agents and other resources to arrive ahead of time. Mayor Pete Saenz told Newsweek that he's met with local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), which have… Read more »

Federal agencies in charge of immigration at the southern border have limited resources because of the pandemic and have faced challenges in recent weeks as a growing number of unaccompanied young migrants surrender themselves to U.S. officials. Democratic congressman from Laredo, Henry Cuellar, is following the story closely. Cuellar, whose district stretches from San… Read more »

WASHINGTON (NEWS RELEASE) — The following is a news release from the Office of U.S. Representative Jodey Arrington: Today (Tuesday), Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) and Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) introduced the “Ports-to Plains Highway Act of 2021.” This bill would expand and upgrade… Read more »

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Gov. Greg Abbott launched Operation Lone Star on Saturday — an effort to stop Mexican cartels from smuggling drugs and people into Texas by surging state police and National Guard forces to the border. South Texas leaders welcomed the arrival of help but were reminded of a similar effort in 2014 that upset local communities. “You know, locals really didn’t like… Read more »

Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced in a small ceremony $4 million in federal funds going to PILLAR on Friday, one of Laredo’s leading mental health clinics. The funding — awarded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s grant program — will be used to Implement Project Consolidated Treatment Services that will establish a Certified Community Behavioral… Read more »

Since President Joseph Biden took office in January and began rolling back Trump-era immigration policies, many lawmakers feared an influx of migrants and asylum-seekers would overwhelm the U.S.-Mexico border. In a press conference Monday, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said that there was no crisis at the border. "I think there is a challenge at the border that we… Read more »