County judges of RGV discuss re-opening international bridges

WESLACO, Texas - Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr., says he fears the international bridges will be closed to Mexican visa holders for another month, if not longer.Treviño held a news conference at the Cameron County Courthouse last Wednesday where he discussed the issue in depth. He said that in his capacity as chairman of the Texas Border Coalition, he had written to acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, Mark Morgan, urging him to re-open the bridges.President Trump has restricted border crossings for the past six weeks to trade and commerce. Ordinary visa holders cannot cross to go shopping, sightseeing or visit their families. Border communities say their economy has been hurt by the decision. Supporters of the restriction say the measure has reduced the chance of COVID-19 spreading. The current restrictions are in place until June 22. Treviño would not say who had told him the border crossing restrictions will be extended. The day after the news conference in Brownsville, all the four county judges in the Rio Grande Valley met for a news conference at the offices of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council in Weslaco. The four are Treviño, Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez, Starr County Judge Eloy Vera, and Willacy County Judge Aurelio Guerra. The news conference was called to discuss a recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the Valley. However, the issue of whether to re-open the bridges came up.Veteran broadcaster Ron Whitlock of Ron Whitlock Reports asked all four county judges a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question. Do they support the re-opening of the bridges.This podcast contains their answers.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.