Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
In a recent video message shared on social media, McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos commended federal officials and the current administration for their work on border security while urging them to take further steps toward practical immigration reform.
“As Mayor of the City of McAllen, I want to express my sincere gratitude to our federal officials and the current administration for their diligent efforts to secure the southern border,” Villalobos stated. He highlighted a significant decline in illegal border activity, saying, “Thanks to the administration’s actions, unlawful border crossings are at a 10-year low, and our national security continues to increase.”
Villalobos framed these developments as a turning point for local governments along the border. “Border cities are once again able to focus on providing a high quality of life for our residents and visitors through promoting arts and culture, and bolstering economic development instead of implementing federal immigration policy,” he said. He added, “Thank you for reclaiming what should have always been a federal issue.”
While supportive of continued enforcement, Villalobos called for a shift in policy focus toward economic integration. “It is also my duty to ensure that we provide our communities with every opportunity for success,” he said. “Therefore, I urge the federal government to explore options for lawful employment for all law-abiding people in the United States.”
Calling for a more pragmatic approach, he emphasized, “Let us not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” Villalobos advocated for separating employment authorization from the broader citizenship debate, arguing that “there should be pathways to employment now and let the federal government discuss citizenship later.”
He positioned the issue as a matter of national economic interest. “The ambitious goal of large-scale economic growth led by significant industrial expansion cannot be met without the human capital and talent necessary to turn a shared vision into a prosperous reality.”
Villalobos also reinforced McAllen’s unique geographic and cultural role in the region. “McAllen is a destination city and will continue to invest in projects that add to its unique position as an economic and cultural hub between the United States and Mexico, Central America, and South America.” He pointed out that “McAllen’s binational relationship with Mexico and the visitors who purchase, eat, work, and invest in our city remain integral to the region’s long-term success and the ability of the United States to attain its goals of growing our economy.”
Villalobos struck a balance between the need for border control and preserving cross-border commerce and culture. “As the federal government stems the flow of unlawful migration, we must not halt the flow of commerce, culture, friendship, and hospitality. Working together, we can keep this growth of McAllen, our great state of Texas, and the United States strong now and into the future.”
Follow the link below to watch the video of the mayor’s address:
https://www.facebook.com/McAllenTX/videos/2467873833568841
See related story:
