Hidalgo County leaders talk Title 42 with Mayorkas

MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas arrived to the Rio Grande Valley on Thursday.

He spoke briefly with Border Patrol and local leaders on how DHS is expected to help Valley counties and cities prepare for the influx of migrants after Title 42 is lifted.

McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos says he learned comforting news in his brief chat with the DHS head.

"We're also very happy that we're informed that hopefully there will be funding to be able to assist us while we assist them," Javier Villalobos, Mayor of McAllen said.

After the 2021 border surge, the City of McAllen received over $30 million in reimbursements.

Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez says he wants to make sure Mayorkas knew that the county needs urgent help from DHS.

"Right now what we're seeing here is we had a manageable situation that's about to go unmanageable from everything that I'm hearing. So it's in his hands to do something about it. We need to make sure that we have all the proper resources," Cortez said.

Cortez says that to prepare and handle the lifting of Title 42, he will be in regular contact...