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HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Nearly five months ago, President Joe Biden visited the Rio Grande Valley and toured the border.
On Thursday, February 29, he landed at Brownsville-South Padre International Airport and spent several hours on the ground meeting with U.S. Border Patrol agents, law enforcement, and local officials.
Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, right, delivers remarks as President Joe Biden looks on during a visit to the southern border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas. (AP Photo/Valerie Gonzalez)
President Joe Biden talks with the U.S. Border Patrol, as he looks over the southern border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas, along the Rio Grande. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Joe Biden talks with the U.S. Border Patrol, as he looks over the southern border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas, along the Rio Grande. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Joe Biden delivers remarks during a visit to the southern border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas. With the President from left are, Brownsville Mayor John Cowen and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Joe Biden delivers remarks during a visit to the southern border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas, as U.S. Border Patrol look on. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Joe Biden delivers remarks during a visit to the southern border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas. (AP Photo/Valerie Gonzalez)
President Joe Biden talks with the U.S. Border Patrol, as he looks over the southern border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas, along the Rio Grande. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Joe Biden talks with the U.S. Border Patrol, as he looks over the southern border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas, along the Rio Grande. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Joe Biden delivers remarks during a visit to the southern border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Joe Biden delivers remarks during a visit to the southern border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas. With the President from left are, Brownsville Mayor John Cowen, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Joe Biden delivers remarks during a visit to the southern border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas. (AP Photo/Valerie Gonzalez)
President Joe Biden, center, looks over the southern border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas. Walking with Biden are from l-r., Peter Flores, Deputy Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Jason Owens, Chief, U.S. Border Patrol and Gloria Chavez, Sector Chief, U.S. Border Patrol.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Joe Biden, left, waits to deliver remarks during a visit to the southern border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas. (AP Photo/Valerie Gonzalez)
President Joe Biden delivers remarks during a visit to the southern border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas, as Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, looks on. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Joe Biden delivers remarks during a visit to the southern border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas. With the President from left are, Brownsville Mayor John Cowen, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Joe Biden arrives at Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport for a trip to visit the southern border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas, and is greeted by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, right, and others. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas looks over the southern border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas, along the Rio Grande, with the U.S. Border Patrol. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
He received a 25-minute briefing at the Border Patrol headquarters from several Department of Homeland Security agencies in front of a litany of TV cameras and local officials and invited guests, to whom he asked various questions.
During his visit, he was disturbed by the amount of fentanyl crossing the border and by how Mexican cartels have far more drones in the air than the U.S. Border Patrol.
He addressed the group in a message that was streamed on ValleyCentral.
“Folks, it’s real simple. It’s time to act. … It’s past time to act,” Biden said as he took the podium.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas traveled with Biden to the Valley. He was also accompanied by U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez and Brownsville Mayor John Cowen.
This was Biden’s first visit to the Valley as president. In January 2023, he visited El Paso.
(Border Reports Sandra Sanchez contributed to this report.)
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