WATCH LIVE: Beto O'Rourke in the Valley to address Abbott's DPS directive
Beto O'Rourke will be in the Valley on Tuesday to address Gov. Greg Abbott's directive for enhanced safety inspections of commercial vehicles at the border.
The press conference is expected to begin at 11:30 a.m. and will be livestreamed in this article, as well as on our KRGV Facebook and YouTube pages.
Can't see the video? Click here.
Last week, the governor ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to conduct enhanced safety inspections of commercial vehicles coming into Texas from Mexico, a move aimed at stopping the smuggling of migrants, drugs and other contraband. The directive comes after the Biden administration announced the May 23 ending of Title 42, a Trump-era policy that allowed officials to turn away migrants at the border due to COVID-19 concerns.
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In a statement, O'Rourke said the directive is "hurting the Texas economy, exacerbating supply chain disruptions, and harming small businesses by causing incredibly long wait times for trucks at international bridges."
I just spoke to a small business owner in McAllen who imports produce from Mexico.
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) April 10, 2022
Her broker said that of the 250 produce trucks that he typically helps to cross each day at the Pharr port of entry, only 68 could get through on Friday. The rest were stuck.