TAMAULIPAS, Mex. – Towns south of the Rio Grande Valley in Mexico are bracing to see an uptick in deportations.

Tamaulipas President of the Chamber of Commerce, Julio Cesar Almanza Armas, said they aren’t fully equipped to take in a large number of nationals who are deported from the U.S.

“We aren’t ready for it, but it has to be done. I know that they are already working on it, the local, state and federal government and the cities along the border,” he said.

Cesar Almanza Armas said the economy in both Mexico and the Valley will take a hit if mass deportations take place.