South Texas Alliance of Cities responds to ICE raids

EDINBURG, Texas – The South Texas Alliance of Cities (STAC) has issued a statement regarding the recent federal immigration raids in the region. 

STAC comprises a coalition of mayors from the larger cities of South Texas. The group’s statement, issued June 12, 2025, is supported by the following mayors:

• Mayor Javier Villalobos, City of McAllen
• Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza, City of Mission
• Mayor Norma Sepulveda, City of Harlingen
• Mayor John Cowen, Jr., City of Brownsville
• Mayor Victor D. Treviño, City of Laredo
• Mayor Ron Nirenberg, City of San Antonio
• Mayor Ramiro Garza, Jr., City of Edinburg
• Mayor Adrian Gonzalez, City of Weslaco

The statement reads:

The South Texas Alliance of Cities is aware of the ongoing immigration enforcement operations being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in various parts of our region. We have heard from local business owners and community members who are understandably concerned about the disruptions to their daily lives and livelihoods.

We want to respectfully clarify that our local law enforcement agencies are not involved in these federal operations and are not engaged in the enforcement of federal immigration policies. These actions are being carried out solely by federal authorities, and our municipal governments were neither informed of nor consulted about these operations in advance.

As mayors, we remain committed to the well-being, safety, and economic stability of our communities. The current lack of communication and transparency has led to confusion, concern, and operational disruptions, particularly for small businesses that are the backbone of our local economies.

We are actively working to gather accurate information to better understand the scope and purpose of these federal efforts. Our responsibility is to advocate for the residents and businesses of our cities and ensure their voices are represented. We respectfully urge our federal partners to enhance coordination and communication with local leadership so we may continue to lead effectively and clearly.

The South Texas Alliance of Cities stands united in our commitment to the rule of law, public safety, economic strength, and the trust of our communities. We welcome the opportunity for dialogue rooted in mutual respect and transparency to better serve our community.

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