Saenz: Politicians claiming the Valley is unsafe are just furthering their political agenda

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz says he is fed up with national politicians disparaging the Rio Grande Valley with claims that the region is overrun with undocumented immigrants due to open border policies.

Saenz invites these politicians to come to downtown Brownsville and see how peaceful it is. 

“I’m glad you have had the opportunity to see how peaceful and quiet it is and how safe it is,” Saenz told the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, in an exclusive interview.

“Where we’re standing right here, we’re less than half a mile from the border, from the bridge, and we’re a very safe community. We’ve been ranked nationally in the top 20 safest communities. That’s contrary to what you hear from these national officials who come down to do their photo ops. They get on those river boats with their bulletproof vests and they hold their press conferences and warn people about how dangerous it is down here. How it’s a war zone.”

Such rhetoric is “very unsettling” for all the people that live and work in the Valley, Saenz said.

“Were disturbed by that (war zone rhetoric) and we wish they would stop saying that because it’s not true.”

Saenz added: “We live in a very peaceful community, very safe, and we invite anybody to come down here and visit us and see for themselves how safe and peaceful it is, contrary to what these national elected officials are saying to further their political agendas.”

Saenz did not name the national politicians he had in mind. Perhaps it includes U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul of Austin, Texas, who recently said: “Every time I go down to the border, it has gotten worse. This crisis — a direct result of the Biden administration’s deliberate abandonment of our border — is a human tragedy, and it’s damaging the fabric of our nation.”

Perhaps Saenz had U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas in mind. Cornyn recently said: “The truth is, the state of Texas has been left abandoned.” Cornyn said he is working hard to “protect our nation from Joe Biden’s reckless open-border immigration policies.”

Here is the interview with the district attorney:

Often times, national politicians go down to the boat ramp at Anzalduas Park in Mission for their photo-op. With the Rio Grande as their backdrop, they don bulletproof vests and board DPS river boats. 

Anzalduas Park is owned by Hidalgo County. To help counter all the negativity, Hidalgo County Commissioner Everado ‘Ever’ Villarreal is hosting a picnic at Anzalduas Park on Easter Sunday. 

“Spend Easter Sunday at our scenic Anzalduas Park. We’re open from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm, offering picnic areas and refreshing tree canopy shades for a relaxing day outdoors. Bring your friends and family for a memorable Easter experience,” Villarreal said. Here is Villarreal’s flyer:

A flyer for an event hosted by Hidalgo County Commissioner Overdo ‘Ever’ Villarreal.

The post Saenz: Politicians claiming the Valley is unsafe are just furthering their political agenda appeared first on Rio Grande Guardian.