McAllen Mayor Jim Darling partnered with area officials to host a press conference May 21, 2015 regarding a possible immigration influx in the coming months. Mayor Darling stressed that is it not a border crisis, but rather border compassion.
Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia, U.S. Border Patrol RGV Sector Chief Patrol Agent Kevin Oaks and Sister Norma Pimentel from Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley also took the podium and revealed their readiness plans for any potential uptick in immigration in the McAllen area.
Last year, thousands of undocumented immigrants poured into the McAllen region and local and federal officials want to be prepared to handle potential challenges that may develop this summer.