Texas Border Business
EDINBURG – Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez has issued the following statement regarding the recent installation of razor wire in Hidalgo County:
“Border security and immigration are serious issues, and they deserve real, long-term solutions. Physical barriers like razor wire do not address the root of the problem. Fences and wire may send a message, but they do not fix a broken system. Right now, we have a system that focuses almost entirely on keeping people out, instead of creating realistic and humane ways for people to come into this country legally.
Here in Hidalgo County, residents want safety, stability, and clear solutions, not temporary measures that may also harm our environment. Actions like this create concern and confusion in local communities, especially when they happen without local input. These installations change the feel of public spaces and can create anxiety for families who are simply going about their daily lives.
Hidalgo County residents deserve policies that improve safety while respecting people and the rule of law. The only way to truly address illegal immigration is by changing the laws. That means state and federal leaders must work together on solutions that improve public safety while also respecting human rights and offering legal options for migration.
This is not about whether the county wants more enforcement. It’s about building a system that works for everyone involved, including residents who want safe streets, effective public services, and government attention to real problems, not symbolic responses.
Until lawmakers change the laws, local border communities will continue to feel the effects of a system that is not working. Real solutions come from policy, not from razor wire.”
