“Texas moves at the speed of business,” said Governor Abbott. “As the eighth-largest economy in the world, Texas offers unmatched business advantages that no other state can claim.” — Governor Abbott. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott celebrated Texas being recognized as the Best Business Climate in the nation for the third year in a row by Business Facilities magazine in their 2025 Annual Rankings Report.
“Texas moves at the speed of business,” said Governor Abbott. “As the eighth-largest economy in the world, Texas offers unmatched business advantages that no other state can claim — no corporate or personal income tax, a highly skilled and diverse workforce, easy access to global markets, robust infrastructure, and a reasonable regulatory environment. Working with the Texas Legislature, we had the most successful legislative session that furthered pro-growth policies, enhanced government efficiency, and delivered results that will benefit Texas businesses and entrepreneurs for decades. I thank Business Facilities magazine for once again recognizing Texas as the best business climate in the nation.”
Texas was recognized for over 1,300 qualified capital investment projects during 2024. As part of this activity, more than 20 companies announced plans to relocate corporate headquarters to Texas.
According to Business Facilities magazine, the flagship ranking includes consideration of economic development activity and achievements over the previous year, including capital investment and job creation announcements and implementation. A focus on economic strength, regulatory and tax climate, infrastructure, and workforce availability is central to the Best Business Climate designation.
The price will change from $21.36 to $22.05, a $0.69 increase. Return overnight delivery service means applicants receive their passport in 1to 2 days after it has been processed, instead of the 5 to 7 days that regular mail may take. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
A price increase by the U.S. Department of State in the return overnight delivery for passports will go into effect on Friday, June 27, 2025. The price will change from $21.36 to $22.05, a $0.69 increase. Return overnight delivery service means applicants receive their passport in 1to 2 days after it has been processed, instead of the 5 to 7 days that regular mail may take.
The City of McAllen Passport Facility is located at 221 S. 15th St. Walk-ins are accepted on a first come, first-serve basis Monday thru Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If an appointment is preferred, please call ahead to (956) 681-1450.
Other U.S. passport book or card requirements are listed below:
Application Form DS-11 must be completed in black ink only.
Applicant must be present at time of processing.
Children 15 years of age and younger must be accompanied by both parents. Children 16 and 17 years of age must be accompanied by one parent. 18 years of age or older must present their own valid Texas Identification or Driver License. If one parent is unavailable at the time of the appointment, Form DS-3053 must be completed, notarized and submitted with the application along with a copy (front and back) of absent parent’s identification.
Certified Birth Certificate, (Long Form) or Certificate of Naturalization
Photocopy of proof of Citizenship and Identification (front and back)
One 2 inch by 2-inch color photograph; available on site for $18 cash
Valid I.D. with photo and signature
U.S. Driver’s License or Identification Card
Visa Laser
U.S. Passport/Mexican Passport
Consular I.D.
Passport fees must be paid only in the form of a check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of State
Processing and photo fees can be paid in the form of cash
“On Sanctity of Life Day, we reaffirm that every human life is valuable and worthy of protection from the moment of conception,” said Attorney General Paxton. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton and the Office of the Attorney General (“OAG”) observe Sanctity of Life Day to commemorate the anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade and other similar decisions, returning the legal authority to pass laws concerning abortion back to the states. That same day, the OAG closed its offices starting at noon as a memorial to the tens of millions of children killed by abortions during the forty-nine years the Roe decision was allowed to stand. Every year since then, the OAG has celebrated the progress being made to protect the unborn on Sanctity of Life Day.
“On Sanctity of Life Day, we reaffirm that every human life is valuable and worthy of protection from the moment of conception,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Roe v. Wade’s legacy of death must not be repeated, and while I am Attorney General, Texas will always protect the unborn and uphold our pro-life laws.”
Ammaad Akhtar, 33, of Stockton, was arrested today and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
U.S. Department of Justice
Ammaad Akhtar, 33, of Stockton, was arrested today and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
According to court documents, since February 2025, Akhtar has been communicating online with a law enforcement-controlled individual, whom Akhtar believed was a member of ISIS. In these conversations, Akhtar voiced his support for ISIS and jihad, expressed a desire to travel overseas to join and fight with ISIS, and stated a desire to send guns and money to ISIS.
In April 2025, during this investigation, Akhtar demonstrated a desire to provide support for ISIS and did so by providing financial funding on multiple occasions. After a few payments, the law enforcement-controlled individual indicated that ISIS had procured several guns with the money Akhtar had sent. In his response, Akhtar said, “may Allah destroy our enemies” and affirmed that he would send more money that same day.
Akhtar also talked about planning acts of violence, including conducting an attack against a specific individual and an attack utilizing homemade explosives. He said he “want[s] to die in the cause of Allah fighting the kuffar [infidels]” and asked for instructions on how to make a homemade explosive device in order “to make a boom” at a populated event.
Then, on June 23, 2025, Akhtar met with an individual he believed was an ISIS associate, but who was actually an undercover employee. Akhtar provided clothing, binoculars, $400 cash, two loaded guns, and six additional magazines. Akhtar then swore bayat (a pledge of loyalty) to ISIS.
If convicted, Akhtar faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith for the Eastern District of California, and Assistant Director Donald M. Holstead of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division made the announcement.
The FBI’s Sacramento Field Office is investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by the FBI’s New York Field Office and the New York City Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Wong for the Eastern District of California and Trial Attorney Ryan D. White of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
A 40-year-old Mexican national illegally in the United States has been ordered to prison for possessing narcotics with the intent to distribute. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas
McALLEN, Texas – A 40-year-old Mexican national illegally in the United States has been ordered to prison for possessing narcotics with the intent to distribute.
Miguel Angel Reyes-Sanchez pleaded guilty Aug. 2, 2024.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered him to serve 57 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described Reyes-Sanchez’s role in the drug trafficking organization and that he was involved in multiple transactions.
The investigation revealed that on April 2, 2024, Reyes-Sanchez placed a white cardboard box into a silver Buick that Cesar Gonzales was driving. Authorities conducted a traffic stop which lead to the discovery of 3.5 kilograms of cocaine inside the vehicle. Gonzales attempted to flee on foot, but law enforcement was able to apprehend him.
A month later, law enforcement observed Reyes-Sanchez in another drug transaction which resulted in the discovery of an additional 49.2 kilograms of cocaine.
He admitted he knew he was transporting the drugs on that date and to providing the cocaine to Gonzales.
The drugs from both instances had an estimated street value of $1.2 million.
Reyes-Sanchez will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Gonzales, 24, McAllen, had also pleaded guilty and was previously sentenced to 24 months in federal prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Garcia prosecuted the case.
A 42-year-old Mexican citizen with a B1/B2 visa has been sentenced to federal prison for attempting to enter the United States with child pornography. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas
LAREDO, Texas – A 42-year-old Mexican citizen with a B1/B2 visa has been sentenced to federal prison for attempting to enter the United States with child pornography.
Martin Alonso Diaz-Lopez pleaded guilty July 9, 2024, to transportation of child pornography.
U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen has now sentenced Diaz-Lopez to 180 months in federal prison. In handing down the prison term, the court held him accountable for 66,489 images and noted that Diaz-Lopez wasn’t just possessing these images but sharing them online and bringing them into the United States. Diaz-Lopez was further ordered to pay $44,148 in restitution to the victims in the images he possessed and brought to the country. Not a U.S. citizen, Diaz-Lopez is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. He will also have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet and will be ordered to register as a sex offender. The court noted that many of the images and videos he possessed were of very young children and toddlers being raped.
The investigation began when authorities identified his email as one of many internet users in Tijuana, Mexico, sharing child pornography online. Diaz-Lopez had applied for a visa in 2023 and listed the same email address uncovered during the investigation. Law enforcement then put an alert on his name.
On March 22, 2024, Diaz-Lopez arrived at the Lincoln-Juarez Port of Entry in Laredo and applied for admission into the United States. Authorities referred him to secondary inspection because of the alert.
At that time, Diaz-Lopez consented to a search of his phones which revealed approximately 20 images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
A forensic examination ultimately uncovered a total of 1,484 child pornography files – 883 videos and 264 pictures.
Diaz-Lopez admitted he began viewing CSAM in 2022 while living and working in Pennsylvania and continued after returning to his home in Mexico. He also acknowledged belonging to group chats on various social media platforms where he and others exchanged CSAM. He further admitted he shared material in those chats to receive more in return.
“The defendant not only chose to break our country’s immigration laws, but also decided to bring in thousands of images of children being sexually abused. Neither defendant, nor his sick proclivities, are welcome in America,” said Ganjei. “Diaz-Lopez earned each and every day of his 180-month sentence, and an equally severe punishment awaits him if he ever tries to return.”
“Today’s sentencing shows that anyone trying to exploit and harm children, no matter where they’re from, will face serious consequences. This case, involving a Mexican citizen who tried to enter the U.S. with child pornography, highlights our dedication to protecting our homeland and our neighborhoods. HSI, along with our law enforcement partners, will keep working hard to bring those who exploit our children to justice and protect the most vulnerable among us,” said Laredo Acting Deputy Special Agent in Charge Mauro Lopez from Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI).
He will remain in custody pending his transfer to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
ICE-HSI conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Makens prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Texas has now added more than 2.53 million jobs under Governor Abbott’s leadership. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott celebrated Texas as the No. 1 state in the nation for job creation with more jobs created last month and over the last 12 months than any other state. Texas has now added more than 2.53 million jobs under Governor Abbott’s leadership.
“Texas is America’s undisputed jobs engine,” said Governor Abbott. “Texas again leads the nation for the most jobs created over the last 12 months. Working with the Texas Legislature, we had the most successful legislative session that furthered pro-growth policies, expanding career and technical training programs and removing unnecessary regulatory barriers for businesses. The policies I signed into law mean more paychecks and more opportunities for Texas families to thrive.”
May employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Texas gained the most nonfarm jobs over the month of May at 28,100 and from May 2024 to May 2025 at 213,300 as Texas continues to outpace the national growth rate.
Last week, Governor Abbott touted Texas’ economic momentum as the state again surpassed all previous records for total jobs, the number of Texans working, and the size of the Texas labor force.
Established in 1996 and updated in 2019, the TSA sets a reference price for fresh tomato imports from Mexico and enforces inspections to stabilize the U.S. market. It ensures a non-disruptive, year‑round supply without resorting to punitive tariffs. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
Texas Border Business
Governor Greg Abbott has signed bipartisan House Concurrent Resolution No. 108 (H.C.R. 108), urging the U.S. Department of Commerce to maintain the Tomato Suspension Agreement (TSA). Advocates emphasize safeguarding nearly 30,000 jobs in Texas and the overarching $7.5 billion-plus impact on the national economy, a substantial portion of which circulates through the Lone Star State.
Established in 1996 and updated in 2019, the TSA sets a reference price for fresh tomato imports from Mexico and enforces inspections to stabilize the U.S. market. It ensures a non-disruptive, year‑round supply without resorting to punitive tariffs.
However, the U.S. Department of Commerce recently announced its intent to end the 2019 version of the agreement—effective July 14, 2025—and reimpose a 20–21% antidumping duty on Mexican tomato imports. Growers in Florida, led by the Florida Tomato Exchange, applaud the move, arguing that the TSA has failed to halt “dumping” practices and disadvantaged domestic producers.
In contrast, Texas agricultural, economic, and border-community leaders paint a vastly different picture. Commissioner Ellie Torres of Hidalgo County asserts that terminating the TSA would affect hundreds of businesses and elevate tomato prices by up to 50% in regions like the Rio Grande Valley. Dante Galeazzi, CEO of the Texas International Produce Association, references data from Texas A&M showing that for every $1 of Mexican tomato imports, there’s a $2.67 return in U.S. economic activity—totaling over $8 billion annually—and supporting nearly 50,000 American jobs, including more than 30,000 in Texas.
Senator Mark Kelly and Arizona representatives echo these concerns, warning of potential job losses exceeding 50,000 across Texas and Arizona and revenue losses of over $7.5 billion for U.S. grocery retailers. The Border Trade Alliance adds that exiting the TSA would not only inflate tomato prices due to tariffs but also disrupt trade infrastructure and violate USMCA principles.
Corporate stakeholders are divided. San Antonio-based NatureSweet warns that eliminating the TSA threatens specialty tomato varieties—particularly grape tomatoes—and could reduce product variety, workforce, and operational capacity, while raising consumer prices by $1 million per week for the company alone. Conversely, Florida growers see the change as vital for leveling the agricultural playing field.
H.C.R. 108 emphasizes the TSA’s continued relevance: It underpins affordable food for families, sustains vital trade routes in South Texas ports, and protects a web of interconnected jobs, from growers, transporters, and warehouse workers to federal inspectors and retailers.
As July 14 nears, the U.S. faces a watershed moment that could reshape the domestic tomato market, impact prices, and alter global trade relations with Mexico. H.C.R. 108 urges policymakers to reconsider termination, calling instead for modernizing the agreement to balance domestic grower interests with the economic stability of Texas and the national food supply.
On June 11, 225, Billy Kelley, General Manager of Bert Ogden Buick-GMC, addresses the team. Image by Noah H. Mangum González
Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
The celebration of Bert Ogden Buick-GMC’s prestigious 2024 Dealer of the Year award was not only a corporate milestone but also demonstrated the leadership and teamwork of the Edinburg dealership under General Manager Billy Kelley. The dealership, part of the larger Bert Ogden Auto Group, earned the rare distinction from both Buick and GMC divisions of General Motors, an honor achieved by only two dealerships in Texas.
General Manager Billy Kelley proudly holds the GMC Dealer of the Year award alongside Robert and Janet Vackar, who display the Buick honor. CEO Natasha del Barrio joins in celebrating a milestone moment for Bert Ogden Auto Group. Image by Noah H. Mangum González
For Kelley, the recognition reflects more than strong sales—it highlights the strategy, commitment, and human-centered leadership that define the dealership’s culture. He explained that one of the most significant strategic secrets this past year was placing a sharper focus on Buick.
“One of the biggest changes we did, we really went Buick-focused,” Kelley said. “Buick has become one of the top-selling cars in our market because of their new design and engineering. So, Buick made a big, big impact on the award this year.”
But high performance doesn’t happen by accident. Kelley emphasized that a winning culture begins with people development. “We try to train continuously, continuously grow, and encourage our people not only to be good employees, but to be good humans and even better people.”
That approach has paid off. In 2023, Bert Ogden Buick-GMC sold 648 Buicks, a 46% increase from the prior year, and 2,389 GMC vehicles, ranking them #5 in the U.S. for GMC sales. The total unit sales topped 3,000, with the dealership on track to surpass 3,700 in 2024—a record for the group.
Still, Kelley insists the real reward is serving the people of the Rio Grande Valley. “It says that we work in a market that trusts us as their dealer. It says that we have a community that depends on us to serve them. And so, there’s no greater honor than serving the community.”
Of course, such success doesn’t come without challenges. Kelley pointed to inventory limitations and global supply chain constraints, including sourcing from as far away as Korea, as hurdles they had to overcome. Maintaining national top-five performance through those obstacles demanded constant adaptability and grit.
Kelley’s remarks came during a celebration where he publicly thanked the organization’s leadership for the opportunity to achieve such milestones. “I want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Vackar and Mrs. del Barrio for the opportunity to achieve what we have. I tell our managers this is like a puzzle—each person is crucial. We work long hours and face tough challenges, but that drive and culture make us successful. We are deeply honored to be here and are filled with gratitude for our leaders, teammates, and this organization.”
Robert C. Vackar, Chairman of the Board and Chief Performance Officer, also recognized his efforts, crediting the group’s progress to strong individuals throughout the company. “It’s been a phenomenal ride, and it’s because of people like Janet, who’s done an incredible job with advertising, Billy, for everything he’s done, and Natasha, who’s been phenomenal.”
Looking ahead, Kelley is not content with maintaining momentum. “We’re just gonna continue to try to win. We’re gonna try to sell more and more every year. We’re gonna take every deal. We’re gonna be super aggressive and take care of our customers better than anybody else.”
In a dealership where every team member is seen as a vital piece of the puzzle, the 2024 Dealer of the Year award isn’t the finish line—it’s just another milestone on a road built on trust, teamwork, and relentless forward motion.
LAREDO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers at the Laredo Port of Entry seized cocaine that totaled over $1,500,000 in street value.
“Thanks to the vigilance and dedication of our CBP officers, a significant amount of cocaine was intercepted before it reached our communities,” said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. “Their commitment to securing the border and disrupting the flow of dangerous narcotics continues to play a vital role in protecting the public and upholding the integrity of our nation’s port of entry.”
The seizure occurred on Sunday, June 22 at the Colombia Solidarity Bridge, when a CBP officer referred a 2006 Utility trailer for secondary inspection. Following a canine and non-intrusive inspection system examination, CBP officers discovered a total of 50 packages containing nearly 114.37 pounds of alleged cocaine within the trailer.
The narcotics had a street value of $1,527,139.
CBP seized the narcotics. Homeland Security Investigations special agents are investigating the seizure.
