U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge intercepted 95 specimens of exotic reptiles and insects during an outbound inspection, Aug. 3. USCBP Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
HIDALGO, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge intercepted 95 specimens of exotic reptiles and insects during an outbound inspection, Aug. 3.
“CBP enforces laws and regulations from many state and federal organizations, exotic reptiles and insects are a rare find and we rely on our law enforcement partners to assist with such findings,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.
CBP officers assigned to the Hidalgo International Bridge encountered a white ford van driven by a 31-year-old Mexican national from Reynosa, Mexico, followed by a red Ford pick-up truck driven by a 50-year-old Mexican national and passenger, a 27-year-old Mexican national man from Reynosa. The vehicles were selected for inspection where two boxes were discovered filled with labeled bags and containers. The bags and containers were contained 95 reptiles and insects varying from snakes, lizards, tortoises, scorpions, and fruit fly cultures.
CBP OFO arrested the individuals and seized the vehicles. The insects and reptiles were turned over to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the case remains under investigation by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI).
El Paso Sector U.S. Border Patrol Agents discovered a human smuggling stash house with 44 migrants in central El Paso on Friday. USCBP image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
EL PASO, Texas – El Paso Sector U.S. Border Patrol Agents discovered a human smuggling stash house with 44 migrants in central El Paso on Friday.
On August 5, Border Patrol Agents assigned to the El Paso Station Anti-Smuggling Unit received information regarding three properties in El Paso, possibly being used as human smuggling stash houses.
The first two locations near Alameda Ave. and North Carolina Dr. were found empty, the third location, near Geronimo Dr. and Trowbridge Dr. resulted in the discovery of 44 migrants.
An additional individual, a Mexican national, was apprehended in this event and will face charges under Title 8 USC 1326 (Reentry After Removal).
The migrants encountered are from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Colombia. Also, a 17-year-old unaccompanied child was found among the migrants.
All migrants were medically screened and evaluated. Those migrants amenable to Title 42 were expelled back to Mexico and others transported to the Central Processing Center to be processed under Title 8.
“U.S. Border Patrol in the El Paso Sector continues to disrupt dangerous human smuggling stash houses located throughout our border community”, said El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez. “I want to thank the hard-working agents of the El Paso Sector who rescued these migrants from the exploitive clutches of Transnational Criminal Organizations.”
During Fiscal Year 2022, Border Patrol Agents in El Paso Sector have located more than 186 stash houses, leading to the rescue or interception of 2,051 migrants.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol while remaining anonymous by calling 1-800-635-2509.
A total of ten LEAPS Program students are enjoying the fruits of their academic efforts at the 2022 Louis Stroke Center for Promotion Academic Careers (LS-PAC) MODELS Diversity STEM Conference. Image courtesy of Laredo College
Texas Border Business
The end of July marked the lives of many Laredo College students. A total of ten LEAPS Program students are enjoying the fruits of their academic efforts at the 2022 Louis Stroke Center for Promotion Academic Careers (LS-PAC) MODELS Diversity STEM Conference.
The LS-PAC MODEL Center is a data-driven center dedicated to broadening participation in the STEM professoriate through mentoring, networking and professional development. They are interested in helping unrepresented minority scholars achieve their doctorate degrees and enhance the pathways to academic careers. This center is funded by the National Science Foundation and the Office of Strategic Initiatives.
The center organized a forum for undergraduate and graduate students to provide networking opportunities for attendees as they present their research and share intel in the process. The LS-PAC MODELS Diversity STEM Conference took place between July 21 and July 23 in New Orleans, focusing on broadening STEM pathways by creating an inclusive and equitable academic ecosystem.
In order to qualify, participants must have submitted a 300-word abstract explaining their research. LC LEAPS staff ensured that students’ presentations focused on the accepted STEM research area, to not work as a collaboration, had an oral or poster presentation, and mentioned the research’s importance and the correct use of the scientific method.
From students all over the United States, ten LC students were selected to attend the week-long forum, where they presented their research and met peers with related interests. Our institution is very proud of Vivian Andrade, Daniela Castro, Maria Cervantes Abrego, Dominique Guillen, Erick Herrera, Julie Martinez, Rebecca Parra, Manuel Peralta, Raquel Puig and Elizabeth Robles.
“LC students worked on their research diligently to obtain an excellent opportunity,” Project Director Rosemary Aguero said. “This was also part of their final semester research project for the LEAPS Program. Therefore, they had the presentation experience needed to succeed at the conference. We are thrilled to provide as much assistance to help students grow academically.”
The students experienced and listented to keynote speakers, round table discussions, short talks, workshops and oral or visual research presentations. LC students were amazed by the discussions on STEM innovations, community building, mentoring practices, academia navigation, career development and much more.
Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol (RGV) agents disrupted two human smuggling events and a human stash house over the weekend. USCBP Image
Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol (RGV) agents disrupted two human smuggling events and a human stash house over the weekend.
On August 5, Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station (RGC) agents were led on a vehicle pursuit by the driver of a GMC Envoy after agents observed numerous subjects load into the vehicle near Roma. The pursuit came to a stop when the vehicle crashed into a parked car and all its occupants fled into a nearby neighborhood. A search of the area, lead to the apprehension of two migrants, several other subjects were observed swimming back into Mexico. The driver was not located.
That morning, RGV agents received information of a possible human smuggling stash house located in Mission. Agents and law enforcement authorities responded to the residence and encountered four people determined to be in the U.S. illegally. The Mexican nationals were placed under arrest without incident. No principal was identified at the location.
On August 7, RGV agents working surveillance duties observed multiple subjects entering a F250 near the Rio Grande. Responding agents and local law enforcement agencies attempted to conduct a vehicle stop, however, the vehicle refused to stop. The driver veered off the road and multiple subjects, including the driver, absconded from the vehicle. Agents were able to apprehend five people in the immediate area. All individuals were illegally present in the country. Texas Department of Public Safety took custody of the driver and vehicle.
Many of you have seen this familiar face, she is Edna De Saro, Executive Vice President, and Marketing Director for Lone National Star Bank (LSNB). For the last eighteen years, Edna has been the LSNB’s connection with the communities of the Rio Grande Valley. She has become a most effective emissary for the bank.
Lone Star National Bank has a tradition of helping communities throughout South Texas and outside its banking footprint. The most recent case is Uvalde, a small community of less than sixteen thousand. A tragic event impacted that community, and Lone Star National Bank immediately started raising funds to help the families of the victims of that tragedy.
Edna led the campaign on behalf of Lone Star National Bank, bringing together the Rio Grande Valley’s media to send a message to Valley donors to join the bank in this noble cause. The fundraising culminated with Edna traveling to Uvalde to deliver the funds in person. She said, “I felt like a beacon of hope for that community.”
During another very recent event, she hosted the 44th annual Easterseals Rio Grande Valley Telethon for the fourth time in a row. For over 70 years, Easterseals RGV has been providing critical services, education, outreach, and advocacy so that children and adults with disabilities can live, learn, work, and play in our community.
“The funds help to provide endless possibilities for a child. They should be able to dream of being whatever they want to be in the future. And that is what makes my heart beat.”
On behalf of LSNB, Edna conducted the three-hour telethon in her 3½” high heels. It was broadcasted by KRGV Channel 5 from the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg.
As always, the connection with the community is vital. Lone Star National Bank is known for philanthropic activities that only a few have done in South Texas. Edna is a tireless professional. When she starts a project, she sticks with it until the end.
She told Texas Border Business that people get surprised when they find out that she had been in banking for more than 22 years. That is because before working with LSNB, she worked as a marketer and business development officer for another bank.
Is there a book that you follow for success?
“No, I don’t have a book. My job is not a Monday to Friday job. I firmly believe that success is dedication, love, and long hours,” she said. “I don’t know who came up with that joke about bankers’ hours because bankers’ hours are way more than just eight to five.” She added that other factors for success are to network, network, and network, at any level and in any business.
Edna keeps a tight and active work calendar; she is a multitasker. Her full-time position with LSNB is public relations, creation, and marketing. “I’m very passionate about what I do. I love creating billboards. I love creating print ads, TV and radio commercials, and web ads. I love everything in the aspect of telling the story and brand of a company.”
She pointed out that the PR aspect is the giving back factor. “I consider myself extremely blessed to have the opportunity to go out and to fundraise to give back, all while representing the wonderful people I work with.”
Edna is a loyal, loving, and resilient woman. She is dedicated, hardworking, and a self-made professional.
When you love, do you love a lot or just a little?
On behalf of Lone Star National Bank, Edna conducted the three-hour telethon for Easterseals RGV that was broadcasted by KRGV Channel 5 from the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg.
“I don’t know how to love just a little. You can see that as a weakness. But when I love, I love a whole lot, and I am very loyal. And sometimes, I also seem to get hurt.”
Academic background
Edna graduated from McAllen Memorial High School; she is a Mustang. “I attained my undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth in three and a half years. I loved school; I always took more than 12 credit hours. I registered for 16 hours and always did more.”
“I used to work on campus as a file clerk in the admissions office. I also worked at a local restaurant as a hostess at Ninfa’s restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas.” Edna said, “I put myself through college. I had an amazing collegiate experience at TCU. I got my undergraduate degree in business with an emphasis in marketing and a minor in Latin American literature.”
Once she finished at TCU, she moved back to the Valley and started a banking career. Years later, she was hired by LSNB.
Later, she went back to school at Pan American University to attain her master’s degree. “I earned my MBA in business administration from University of Texas Pan American, so I have both undergraduate and graduate school degrees.” Edna savors her accomplishments in college.
Professionally, she is proud of the longevity of her career. “I think that’s a huge accomplishment for me. I’ve been able to sustain a career in banking for 22 years.”
Another significant success she has enjoyed is that of being a small business owner. “I co-own De Saro/Rodriguez, an advertising agency.”
How important is God in your life?
“God lives within me and my heart,” she said. “I am here as a child of God.”
“El Que Quiere, Puede,” Edna De Saro
We mentioned that she is a multitasker. Well, she is about to embark on the production of an audio podcast. She said, “Latina on the Border is a very personal project of mine. Something that I was inspired to create back in 2019.”
Numerous projects were about to start almost three years ago; many were postponed or suspended because of the pandemic. “2022 feels like the right time.” So, Edna is in the process of launching the Latina on the Border podcast very soon.
She says, “I am planning to feature all the goodness of the Rio Grande Valley, its leaders, its food, and what is the Valley all about. It is a great place to raise a family, start a business, and live.”
Among other topics, what are the strengths of the region? She said, “We have two ports in the Valley, one in Harlingen and the other in Brownsville, plus multiple international gates with Mexico.” She added, “Education, public sector, industry, the Hispanic motivation to succeed, and technology are also the main drivers.” So, get ready. It will be a pretty interesting podcast. Stay tuned for the announcement.
Another personal project on the burner is a children’s book she has written and will be publishing. “It’s a self-growth book for children.” She continued, “Sometimes we think about how adults need support to be able to grow and to be able to strengthen themselves as professionals. We often forget about children. Children also need to be spoken to with encouragement. And I think now more than ever, children are facing many adversities and different challenges that we in other generations didn’t face in our lifetime.”
In this book, she will talk to children about the importance of self-love. “Yes. And stop worrying about other people’s opinions. Love yourself for who you are. And so, I cannot wait, Roberto. It will be sooner than later. I don’t want to spill the beans yet, but it’s coming. It’s coming,” she finalized.
Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGV) Border Patrol agents arrested five convicted sex offenders and more than 20 gang members since last Thursday. USCBP Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGV) Border Patrol agents arrested five convicted sex offenders and more than 20 gang members since last Thursday.
On July 28, Falfurrias Border Patrol Station (FLF) agents apprehended Manuel Ramirez, a Honduran national, near Falfurrias. Ramirez was arrested in New York and charged with first degree attempted rape and sentenced to four years incarceration in 2017. He was also identified as a Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang member.
On July 30, FLF agents processed a Salvadoran MS-13 gang member with prior criminal history for carnal knowledge of a child in Virginia and sentenced to five years incarceration.
McAllen Border Patrol Station agents apprehended a Mexican national on July 31 with a prior conviction for lewd/lascivious acts with a child and sentenced to three years probation and six months incarceration in California.
On August 2, Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station (RGC) agents apprehended a Salvadoran 18th Street gang member whose criminal history in his home country revealed attempted homicide, possession of firearms, and theft. The following day, RGC agents apprehended Cesar Campos, a Peruvian national, who was previously convicted of raping a victim less than 17 years old and was sentenced to 16 months to four years incarceration in New York. The same day, RGC agents arrested another sex offender from Honduras who was sentenced to 12 months incarceration in New Jersey for criminal sexual contact.
Additionally, RGV agents apprehended 11 18th Street gang members, 9 MS-13s, and a Paisa gang member with multiple convictions for marijuana possession.
Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol (RGV) agents disrupted two human smuggling events and seized 166 pounds of marijuana. USCBP Imagee for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol (RGV) agents disrupted two human smuggling events and seized 166 pounds of marijuana.
Brownsville Border Patrol Station (BRP) agents seized over 166 pounds of marijuana when camera operators observed several subjects scale the border wall with several bundles of narcotics near Brownsville, on August 4. BRP agents responded to the area and encountered the subjects loading the bundles into a Chevrolet Tahoe who sped off. The vehicle failed to yield and led agents on a vehicle pursuit. The driver struck another vehicle as he attempted to evade law enforcement authorities. The pursuit ended, when the driver drove into a parking lot and attempted to abscond. Agents apprehended the Mexican national driver, two U.S. citizen passengers, and recovered the bundles, with an estimated street value of more than 133,000 USD. Texas Department of Public Safety troopers responded and took custody of the narcotics, vehicle, and subjects to be charged with state charges. No injuries were reported.
That afternoon, RGV agents apprehended 10 subjects in a human smuggling stash house located in Edinburg. Agents identified all subjects to be illegally present in the United States. The subjects were citizens of Mexico and El Salvador. No caretaker was identified.
McAllen Border Patrol Station (MCS) agents received information regarding a Pontiac Sedan loading up migrants in a well-known smuggling area near Los Ebanos on August 4. MCS camera operators located the vehicle and guided responding agents to the location. As agents approached the vehicle multiple subjects immediately absconded into the nearby brush. A CBP Air and Marine Operations helicopter assisted in the apprehension of three migrants all determined to be illegally present in the U.S. The U.S. citizen driver was also arrested.
Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Kathleen Jackson to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) for a term set to expire on September 1, 2027. Image source: https://www.twdb.texas.gov/about/board/jackson/index.asp For illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
AUSTIN, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Kathleen Jackson to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) for a term set to expire on September 1, 2027. The PUC regulates the state’s electric, water, wastewater, and telecommunications utility industries, implements respective legislation, and offers customer assistance in resolving consumer complaints.
Kathleen Jackson of Beaumont is a board member of the Texas Water Development Board, where she has served since 2014. She is a registered Professional Engineer and former chairman of the Southeast Texas Section of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. She is a member of the Environmental Flows Advisory Group and Texas Farm Bureau and a board member and former president of the Lamar Institute of Technology Foundation. She is former president of the American Cancer Society of North Jefferson County, a former board member of Junior Achievement of the Golden Triangle, and a former member of the Lower Neches Valley Authority Board of Directors and the Texas Water Conservation Association. Additionally, she has participated on the Sabine and Neches Rivers Bay and Estuary Environmental Flows Assessment Program Stakeholders Committee. Jackson received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from North Carolina State University.
STC President Ricardo J. Solis, Ph.D., celebrates his one-year anniversary at the college. STC Image
Texas Border Business
By Amanda Sotelo
From Laredo to McAllen, Ricardo J. Solis, Ph.D., is celebrating his one-year anniversary at South Texas College and marking a year of great success.
Coming to STC in 2021, Solis boasts nearly eight years of experience as a college president, along with experience in economic development and international trade from Mexico and South America to Taiwan. With this knowledge, Solis has set out to reimagine STC’s trajectory.
“STC is now deeply and substantially engaged with the Valley in this period of creative transformation,” said Solis.
Solis’ describes his leadership as purposeful, and he said he knew that coming to STC would allow him to collectively deliver the best education for the region’s workforce, which translates into increasing economic development that will impact the communities on both sides of the border.
“I thrive on creating economic opportunities that bring a better quality of life for a region,” he said. “I have been fortunate and honored to be entrusted to empower individuals, on a personal level, through the community college mission.”
Solis added that at STC, he now has the opportunity, and he’s confident, that he can have a much bigger impact on a much larger scale.
Within his first year, Solis’ initiatives and successes, have made a deep impact in the region, including Mexico.
Among his noted accomplishments this year: STC has started a cross-border workforce development training initiative, providing customized training such as English as a Second Language (ESL) and Robotics to employees from maquiladoras, or factories in Mexico.
The college has also created a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) program in McAllen and expanded it to Starr County through a partnership with Trancasa, an international ground transportation leader. Trancasa provides the trucks and STC provides the instruction.
STC is about to announce a new CDL partnership with McAllen Metro to train bus drivers for the city, neighboring communities and school districts in the region.
Another achievement of note; a partnership with Hidalgo County, that awarded STC $2 million to hire more nursing staff and faculty to accept more students into the nursing program to address the nursing shortage and meet regional, state and national demand.
“I firmly believe that the way in which an institution produces and distributes education and training, increasingly determines both the economic competitiveness of a region and the apportionment of economic opportunity among its constituents,” said Solis. “STC has the perfect component of eager and creative employees, a supportive Board of Trustees and an industry, business and civic community that has remarkable people willing to work together for the common good.”
Solis said his leadership style is inspired by business author Simon Sinek, who said, “A leader is not to come up with all the great ideas. The role of a leader is to create an environment in which ideas can happen.”
In the coming months and years, Solis has pledged to be attentive to ideas from his board, faculty and staff, while working toward his goals of taking STC’s nursing program from being the No. 1 producer of nurses in the state among community colleges to No. 1 in the state among all institutions of higher education – universities and colleges combined.
In addition, Solis and his team are working to create an STC Foundation Board that will help raise scholarship funds for students, implement a PROMISE initiative that will offer tuition-free opportunities; and bring new programs that are set to include Cosmetology, Aviation and Avionics, Medical Billing, Dental Assistant and a Child Development bachelor’s degree program; upskilling and reskilling with micro-credential, or short-term certification programs; and enter a new venture into electric vehicle trainings.
“We are going to continue working on forging new and creative partnerships to bring more learning opportunities and workforce development to our region,” he said. “We’ve already created immediate successes by connecting with our community leaders who respect our mission and value what the college brings to our region. We must continue to change, improve, adapt, be bold and take risks to stay viable and move STC and the community forward.”
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra declared the ongoing spread of monkeypox virus in the United States a Public Health Emergency (PHE). Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
Xavier Becerra Image Source: https://www.hhs.gov
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra declared the ongoing spread of monkeypox virus in the United States a Public Health Emergency (PHE). This action will further strengthen and accelerate the Biden-Harris Administration’s responsein recognition of the continued rapid transmission of monkeypox in the U.S. and globally, and to signal the seriousness and urgency with which the Administration is responding. The announcement comes on the heels of President Biden appointing Robert Fenton of the Federal Emergency Management Agency as White House National Monkeypox Response Coordinator and Dr. Demetre Daskalakis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as White House National Monkeypox Response Deputy Coordinator.
“Ending the monkeypox outbreak is a critical priority for the Biden-Harris Administration. We are taking our response to the next level by declaring a public health emergency,” said Secretary Becerra. “With today’s declaration we can further strengthen and accelerate our response further.”
“President Biden has called on us to explore every option on the table to combat the monkeypox outbreak and protect communities at risk,” said White House National Monkeypox Response Coordinator Robert Fenton. “We are applying lessons learned from the battles we’ve fought – from COVID response to wildfires to measles, and will tackle this outbreak with the urgency this moment demands.”
The PHE declaration is in concert with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) work to explore new strategies that could help get vaccines to affected communities across the country, including using new dose-sparing approach that could increase the number of doses available, up to five-fold.
The public health emergency also carries important implications for data sharing with the federal government. Fifty-one jurisdictions have already signed data use agreements that will provide the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with information related to vaccine administration. Declaring the outbreak an emergency may provide the justification that the remaining jurisdictions need to sign their agreements. Additionally, it provides authorities to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to collect testing and hospitalization data.
As of Thursday, HHS has shipped more than 602,000 doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine to states and jurisdictions, an increase of 266,000 in the past week. HHS has allocated 1.1 million doses to states and jurisdictions in total and is making more doses available as jurisdictions use their current supply. HHS also announced today that it has accelerated the delivery of an additional 150,000 doses to arrive in the U.S. next month. The doses, which were slated to arrive in November will now arrive in the U.S. in September.
Yesterday’s announcements are part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s comprehensive strategy to combat the monkeypox outbreak. The strategy includes significantly scaling the production and availability of vaccines, expanding testing capacity and making testing more convenient, reducing burdens in accessing treatments, and conducting robust outreach to stakeholders and members of the LGBTQI+ communities.
