Rio Grande Valley leaders detail conversations with Paul Ryan

[TexasTowelie]

McALLEN — Community leaders from across the Rio Grande Valley spoke candidly with House Speaker Paul Ryan about the complexity of the U.S.-Mexico border, trying to dispel the notion that the Valley is unsafe and independent of Mexico.

The Speaker’s historic visit to McAllen on Wednesday gave local leaders the opportunity to voice their concerns regarding a border wall, trade with Mexico and a proposed destination-based cash flow tax.

The Valley, home to more than a million people, is considered ground zero. It leads the nation in drug seizures, apprehensions of illegal crossers and is home to the busiest produce port of entry in the country.

“I spoke first because I’m the mayor of ground zero,” McAllen Mayor Jim Darling jokingly said about a meeting of the minds with Ryan.

Read more: http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_24c0eec2-fa36-11e6-a60d-f707db346717.html

[vlyons]

1. so what did they tell Ryan?

n/t

[TexasTowelie]

2. Long introduction to the story, so here is another excerpt:

Darling spoke about a decrease in the number of unaccompanied minors and families coming through the area, the need for immigration reform and declared the border safe.

“Until you convince the guy in Duluth, Minnesota — and I keep picking on Duluth (because) I’m sure a lot of people here think everyone there lives in igloos — but until you convince everyone it’s secure, then we can’t talk about immigration reform,” Darling said. “But no one is even willing to talk about that until the border is secure. So, I declare the border secure.”

Starr County Judge Eloy Vera shared the same views with Ryan.

“I said, ‘well first of all, we all want what’s best for this country, and security certainly plays a very important role. However, we feel that the border is secure,’” Vera said. “If you look at other cities in the country, there’s more violence than there is here in the Valley.”