The Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (PSJA ISD) hosted its inaugural Future Ready PSJA Early College & Career Night on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at the Dr. Daniel P. King PSJA College & University Center. Image courtesy of PSJA ISD
Texas Border Business
SAN JUAN, Texas – The Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (PSJA ISD) hosted its inaugural Future Ready PSJA Early College & Career Night on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at the Dr. Daniel P. King PSJA College & University Center. The event welcomed dozens of 8th grade students, their families, and community members to learn about the college & career opportunities available through the district’s Nationally Recognized Early College Program.
Image courtesy of PSJA ISD
The evening featured remarks from PSJA ISD Superintendent Dr. Alejandro Elias, district leadership, and South Texas College President Dr. Ricardo Solis. Their messages helped kick off breakout tours and information sessions, emphasizing the positive impact of early college opportunities on student success and highlighting the strong and longstanding partnership between South Texas College and PSJA ISD.
Attendees then participated in guided tours of PSJA ISD’s specialized Early College and Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs and facilities. During the tours, attendees had the opportunity to engage one-on-one with instructors, students, and support staff.
“We felt that it was very important to open our doors to our PSJA Family so they could see the life-changing experiences that their children have the opportunity to engage in,” said PSJA Executive Officer for College & Career Readiness Dr. Linda Uribe-Treviño. “We wanted to do it now so our students can get ready for next year and start thinking about college and career. It’s never too late to start early.”
Image courtesy of PSJA ISD
As a leader in Early College education, PSJA ISD continues to build strong partnerships with local colleges and universities to provide students the opportunity to earn up to 60 College Credit Hours, Associate Degrees, and Industry Level Certifications while in high school. The district’s Early College Program continues to serve as a model at the State and National Levels, helping students prepare for success in both college and the workforce.
STC graduates were recently honored by VIDA in a special ceremony recognizing their successful completion of career training programs, an achievement made possible through VIDA’s transformative support in tuition and mentorship. STC image
Texas Border Business
By Selene Rodriguez
Nearly 240 South Texas College graduates were recently honored by the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA) in a special ceremony recognizing their successful completion of career training programs, an achievement made possible through VIDA’s transformative support in tuition and mentorship.
Each graduate received a distinctive stole, symbolizing their dedication, perseverance and the impact of VIDA’s life-changing assistance.
“STC graduates, you’ve gone beyond the classroom, completing workshops, giving back through community service and showing incredible resilience through every challenge,” said Felida Villarreal, president and chief executive officer of VIDA. “Today is not just a graduation, it’s the beginning of your next chapter. Congratulations, Class of 2025, we can’t wait to see what you achieve next.”
The nonprofit organization provides college students with support in tuition, textbooks, supplies, child care and transportation, along with numerous workshops in mental health, career coaching and counseling.
The Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (PSJA ISD) recognized 521 seniors during the 17th Annual Biliteracy Certification Ceremony and Banquet held April 22-24, 2025, at the Regency Event Center. Each student was individually honored for earning a Seal of Biliteracy on their high school diploma, officially certifying them as Bilingual and Biliterate. Image courtesy of PSJA ISD
Texas Border Business
PHARR, Texas – The Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (PSJA ISD) recognized 521 seniors during the 17th Annual Biliteracy Certification Ceremony and Banquet held April 22-24, 2025, at the Regency Event Center. Each student was individually honored for earning a Seal of Biliteracy on their high school diploma, officially certifying them as Bilingual and Biliterate.
Image courtesy of PSJA ISD
Through PSJA ISD’s nationally recognized Dual Language Enrichment Program, students have the opportunity to master two languages, an invaluable skill that opens doors in today’s global society. PSJA ISD remains the only district in the Rio Grande Valley, and one of the few in Texas, to offer an official Biliteracy Seal on high school diplomas, a distinction highly valued by employers and higher education institutions nationwide.
“Being part of the PSJA Dual Language Program has truly shaped who I am today,” said Emily Flores, a senior at PSJA T. Jefferson T-STEM ECHS. “It not only helped me become fluent in two languages but also gave me a deeper understanding of my culture and identity. Thanks to this program, I feel confident and prepared to succeed in college.”
First established in 1995, the PSJA Dual Language Enrichment Program has evolved into a model of excellence, drawing the attention of the US Department of Education and the Texas Education Agency. It continues to foster bilingualism, biliteracy, and cultural appreciation among students from Pre-K 3 through 12th grade.
Image courtesy of PSJA ISD
“At PSJA ISD, we believe that being bilingual and biliterate is a powerful asset in today’s world,” said PSJA Dual Language Enrichment Program Director Olivia Martinez. “This program not only strengthens students’ academic skills but also deepens their cultural awareness and pride. Having over 500 seniors earn their Biliteracy Seal this year is a testament to their hard work and our commitment to language education.”
At PSJA ISD, all Pre-K 3 through 12th-grade students can be part of the PSJA Dual Language Program. PSJA ISD welcomes students from anywhere in the Rio Grande Valley. To learn more or register, visit www.psjaisd.us/whypsja.
McAllen officials, along with the World Trade Center Monterrey – UANL, hosted a business mentoring and networking session in Monterrey, Mexico. The event aimed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking international expansion and entrepreneurial development. Courtesy image
Texas Border Business
McAllen, Texas – McAllen officials, along with the World Trade Center Monterrey – UANL, hosted a business mentoring and networking session in Monterrey, Mexico. The event aimed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking international expansion and entrepreneurial development.
Courtesy image
Business leaders, entrepreneurs, faculty members, and a keynote speaker convened at the BBVA Spark Space for the event. Francisco Puente, the Co-Founder and CEO of Wherex, a business software company that offers solutions for procurement, sourcing, and supply chain departments in medium and large enterprises, shared valuable insights on the global market, industry trends, and effective business solutions.
This collaboration highlights the strength of partnership. In August 2024, Mayor Javier Villalobos, the Secretary of International Relations at UANL, Sandra Gonzalez, and Dr. Eugenio Reyes, the Director of the World Trade Center – Monterrey, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the shared goal of boosting economic growth and business development. This MOU aims to position McAllen as the prime business location in South Texas for World Trade Center Monterrey members looking to expand into U.S. markets.
This significant partnership continues to foster mutual prosperity for both McAllen and Nuevo Leon. According to CoWorking Café, a real estate tech firm, McAllen ranks in the top 10 cities nationwide for small businesses, specifically at #9, making it an attractive choice for business expansion into U.S. markets.
“McAllen is the epicenter of economic growth in the Rio Grande Valley and is a leading international hub for trade and foreign investment. It stands out as the premier location for businesses seeking to expand internationally. Collaborations with notable institutions like the World Trade Center Monterrey highlight the city’s proactive efforts to promote opportunities in foreign markets and strengthen its presence in key business communities,” said McAllen City Manager Isaac J. Tawil.
The city is taking steps to attract foreign investment and drive business expansions through its initiative, “McAllen Means Business International.” This program promotes McAllen as the premier business and investment destination in South Texas.
Moreover, McAllen’s soft-landing program is designed to empower foreign business owners by streamlining processes and delivering essential information for a seamless entry into the local business landscape. This initiative ensures connections with industry experts and business leaders, setting the stage for success in our vibrant community.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Fort Hancock port of entry east of El Paso seized 37.8 pounds of methamphetamine and 5.6 pounds of fentanyl April 30. The drugs were hidden in a vehicle being driven by a 22-year-old female U.S. citizen. USCBP image
Texas Border Business
FORT HANCOCK, TEXAS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Fort Hancock port of entry east of El Paso seized 37.8 pounds of methamphetamine and 5.6 pounds of fentanyl April 30. The drugs were hidden in a vehicle being driven by a 22-year-old female U.S. citizen.
“Even though traffic is generally light at the Fort Hancock port of entry our CBP officers remain vigilant and are keenly aware that at any time the next arriving person or vehicle could pose a threat to the safety of our community,” said CBP Marcelino Serna Port Director Eric Fernandez.
USCBP image
The seizure was made at approximately 7:30 a.m. when a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder with a single occupant arrived from Mexico. CBP officers selected the vehicle for a secondary exam.
A CBP drug sniffing dog searched the vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics. CBP officers continued the exam and located 38 bundles inside the dashboard area of the vehicle.
A total of 34 bundles contained methamphetamine while the contents of the remaining four bundles held multi-colored fentanyl pills.
CBP officers arrested the driver. She was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents to face federal importation of a controlled substance charges.
Juror Appreciation Week activities in Hidalgo County will begin on Monday, May 5th to recognize county residents who have been summoned for jury duty and to highlight the honor and importance of serving on a jury. Courtesy images. Bgd for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – Juror Appreciation Week activities in Hidalgo County will begin on Monday, May 5th to recognize county residents who have been summoned for jury duty and to highlight the honor and importance of serving on a jury.
According to Laura Hinojosa, Hidalgo County District Clerk, the objective of Juror Appreciation Week is to show past and prospective jurors that their contributions are greatly appreciated by the Court. She and her staff spearhead Juror Appreciation Week efforts and coordinate all event logistics.
“Jury service is a vital aspect of our government,” said Hinojosa. “When you serve as juror, you not only serve your country, but you serve as an integral part of the justice system.”
Recognition activities will include door prizes, donated treats and coffee, in addition to attendance and recognition by many of the District Court Judges.
“We want every juror to feel appreciated and to know how much we value their time and commitment to our system of justice,” Hinojosa said. “A big thank you to our local businesses who donated treats and raffle items to make our jurors feel extra special.”
Who: Hidalgo County/District Clerk’s Office
What: Juror Appreciation Week
When: Monday, May 5th and Tuesday, May 6th at 8a.m.
Where: Hidalgo County Courthouse Jury Assembly Hall, 2nd Floor
Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today that federal prosecutors in the district filed 344 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from April 18 through April 24. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Texas
SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today that federal prosecutors in the district filed 344 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from April 18 through April 24.
Among the new cases, Henry Cruz-Lemas, an illegal alien and a Honduran national previously convicted of aggravated kidnapping in September 2011 and sentenced to five years in prison. Cruz-Lemas was arrested on April 18 during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE ERO) investigation in San Antonio. He is charged with one count of illegal reentry of an alien.
Jose Angel Escarcega-Briones, an illegal alien from Mexico, was found approximately 4 miles west of the Tornillo Port of Entry. Border Patrol Agents determined that he did not have immigration documents allowing him to be in the United States legally and that he has previously been removed from the United States 5 times. He has 3 prior convictions for illegal reentry as well as a federal drug trafficking conviction.
Jose Alfonso Deras-Valle, a citizen of El Salvador, was found near mile marker 87 of Interstate 10 in Fort Hancock, Texas. U.S. Border Patrol determined that Deras-Valle had recently been deported to El Salvador on February 21, 2025. His criminal record includes a murder conviction in Florida for which he received fifteen years in prison.
U.S. Border Patrol Agents performing line watch operations in an area near Sierra Blanca, Texas encountered three people attempting to conceal themselves in a culvert. After questioning and investigation, the agents determined the group was in the United States illegally. Sergio Aguirre-Isidro was determined to be a foot guide for the group and that he was to collect 10,000 Mexican Pesos if the group arrived in the U.S. successfully.
Junior Enrique Garcia-Escobar, a Honduran national with a prior conviction out of the State of New York for Burglary using/threatening use of a dangerous instrument, was arrested on illegal reentry charges near Eagle Pass, Texas. He had been sentenced to five years in prison on the burglary charge and was deported in 2019.
Raul Rodriguez-Morales was arrested by Border Patrol Agents in Del Rio, Texas on April 18, 2025, for illegal reentry after having been deported in January 2025. Rodriguez-Morales has previous drug convictions in California as well as a conviction for felon in possession of a firearm and two previous convictions for illegal reentry of an alien in 2011 and 2019.
In Carrizo Springs, Texas, Devarick Dewayne Benson was arrested for conspiring to transport two illegal aliens further into the United States. Benson was driving a vehicle with fictitious plates and was pulled over for driving 10 miles over the speed limit. He had two illegal aliens in the trunk of his car.
A Honduran citizen, Angel Almendarez-Ulloa, was arrested on April 19, 2025, by Border Patrol Agents near Eagle Pass, Texas. Almendarez has been deported from the United States 10 times, with his last deportation to Honduras being on April 21, 2023.
These cases were referred or supported by our federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
A 55-year-old McAllen resident has been ordered to prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas
McALLEN, Texas – A 55-year-old McAllen resident has been ordered to prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Mayela Saby Cantu pleaded guilty Dec. 20, 2024.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has ordered Cantu to serve 24 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $350,000 in restitution. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that detailed Cantu’s role in the scheme. The victim also reported the significant loss due to Cantu’s actions and asked the court for a sentence that would operate as a deterrent for others. In handing down the prison term, the court noted the complexity of the scheme and emphasized that Cantu’s role as an escrow officer allowed her to facilitate the scheme.
At the time of her plea, Cantu admitted she knowingly participated in a scheme that used falsified lien payoff statements, fraudulent warranty deeds and deceptive emails to mislead lenders, title companies and property buyers.
From November 2020 until her arrest, Cantu defrauded buyers and lenders in multiple property transactions while working at a McAllen title company. Using her position of trust, she facilitated closings backed by falsified documents. In one notable case, she directed others to create a fraudulent email address resembling that of a legitimate lienholder. Cantu then used the fake account to send false payoff amounts via interstate wires, leading a title company to improperly disburse more than $350,000.
Cantu facilitated additional fraudulent property transactions, including arranging closing on properties that had already been sold and accepting undisclosed cash payments. By concealing the true nature of these deals, she caused significant financial harm to the affected parties.
She was permitted to remain on bond pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI, McAllen Police Department and Texas Department of Insurance conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Garcia prosecuted the case.
In preparation for potential severe weather, the City of McAllen will provide self-serve sandbags for residents and businesses today, May 2, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at West Side Park, located at 1000 S. Ware Road, McAllen, TX 78501. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
In preparation for potential severe weather, the City of McAllen will provide self-serve sandbags for residents and businesses today, May 2, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at West Side Park, located at 1000 S. Ware Road, McAllen, TX 78501.
Sandbags will be available on a first-come, first-served basis with the following limits:
Residents: 6 sandbags per household
Businesses: 12 sandbags per business
Proof of McAllen residency or business location is required to receive sandbags.
The City urges everyone to continue monitoring local weather reports and take appropriate precautions to stay safe. Residents are also encouraged to sign up for emergency notifications and weather alerts by texting “McAllen” to 99411.
For more information and updates, follow the City of McAllen on social media, visit www.mcallen.net, or call McAllen 3-1-1 at (956) 681-3111.
For Melissa Renner, South Texas College has become more than a place of employment, it’s a second home. STC Image
Texas Border Business
By Veronica Salinas
For Melissa Renner, South Texas College has become more than a place of employment, it is a second home.
Over the years, her connection with the college has grown deeper, with a story of dedication, achievement and family legacy that spans multiple generations.
Renner’s journey at STC began in 2012, when she earned her associate degree in Social Work. Driven by a passion for education and wanting to make a difference, she pursued a higher education further, completing both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in the same field.
It wasn’t just the quality education that brought Renner to STC, it was the college’s mission, values and community spirit that truly called her.
“Once I started my college journey, I quickly discovered that I genuinely enjoyed being in an academic environment,” Renner said. “I realized early on that higher education was something I truly loved. I knew I wanted to be part of an institution where I could contribute to that same positive experience for others. That’s why working at South Texas College felt like the perfect fit. It combined my personal passion with a professional purpose.”
Shortly after receiving her bachelor’s degree, she got her first job at STC and started as the executive administrative assistant for Information Services, Planning, Performance & Strategic Initiatives (ISPP&SI). From there, she grew in her career and landed in her current role as manager for Academic Affairs and Economic Development.
“Working at STC has shown me that the initiatives we are working on can directly affect our students,” she said. “To me, that’s the goal. When we work on projects or policies, I know we are helping students achieve their goals and that makes everything feel more meaningful.”
Renner’s journey at STC extends far beyond her professional accomplishments. STC is a vital part of the Renner family story. It is part of a deeply-rooted family legacy that continues to evolve.
Her husband is also currently attending the college and is in the Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Leadership (BASOL), working towards advancing his career.
The family’s connection with the college extends to their children as well.
Her oldest daughter graduated from STC with an associate degree, while her youngest is currently registered and will be attending for the upcoming Fall semester.
Her son, Gabriel Renner, was a member of the STC drumline and his passion for music and discipline in percussion led him to make history in the Rio Grande Valley. He was the first student from the region to be named Percussive Arts Society International Champion (PASIC) in 2023 at just 19-years-old.
As for what keeps Renner and her family so connected to STC: the people.
“Not only are our faculty amazing, the staff is second to none,” she said. “I enjoy coming to work everyday and working towards a common goal with everyone. The sense of community and support is what truly makes STC stand out. I have never worked anywhere better.”
