Tagged News

• Supreme Court considers letting Trump administration revive restrictive immigration asylum policy

  March 24, 2026 2:48 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court grappled Tuesday with whether the Trump administration should be able to revive an immigration policy that has been used to turn back migrants seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. Some conservative justices seemed receptive to the Justice Department's push to overturn a lower-court... more »

• 2 Charged after Christmas Day Kidnapping at Progreso Port of Entry Parking Lot Play Video

  December 26, 2019 2:54 PM

  PROGRESO – Two men are charged with trying to kidnap a woman from the parking lot to the Progreso port of entry. Jesus Daniel Lugo, 29, and Brian Illas Hernandez, 39, were arrested and charged with aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon Thursday. According to probable cause affidavits,... more »

• Man Killed on Reynosa Int'l Bridge Believed to be U.S. Citizen Play Video

  December 23, 2019 10:21 PM

  REYNOSA, TAMAULIPAS – A man believed to be a U.S. citizen on the bridge heading back from Reynosa was killed Monday evening on the Mexican side. Mexico's federal attorney office confirmed the homicide happened around 6:30 p.m. on the McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge as the man waited to cross into... more »

• CBP Officers Inspecting Christmas Gifts at US Ports of Entry Play Video

  December 17, 2019 5:47 PM

  BROWNSVILLE – If you’re planning on taking Christmas gifts to loved ones across the border, be sure the gifts follow Customs and Border Protection guidelines. It’s all part of the agency’s “Know Before You Go” initiative. CBP wants travelers to know they’ll have to “declare their gifts” when entering... more »

• Transmigrantes Experiencing Long Wait Times Play Video

  December 15, 2019 6:16 PM

  LOS INDIOS - Hundreds of Transmigrantes are waiting to cross near the Los Indios International Bridge. Transmigrantes are known for buying American goods and bringing to back to their home countries. The line at the bridge is over 5 miles long. more »

• Pharr International Bridge Ranked 3rd Best Land Port of Entry in State Play Video

  December 11, 2019 4:04 PM

  PHARR – The third best land port of entry in Texas is in the Rio Grande Valley. The Pharr International Bridge’s new ranking was announced Wednesday, coincidently falling on the same day of its 25 th anniversary. The bridge also among the largest ports for produce. Thousands of... more »

• Local Congressman Calls Upon Mexican Leaders to Address Violence along Border Play Video

  November 25, 2019 9:36 PM

  HIDALGO – A call from Rio Grande Valley leaders to their counterparts across the border. Congressman Vicente Gonzalez is urging Mexican officials to make travel and trade in the country safer. Everyday thousands make their way in and out of Tamaulipas through ports of entry in the Valley. ... more »

• 3 People Shot in Mexico across Los Indios Port of Entry Play Video

  November 6, 2019 5:21 PM

  LOS INDIOS – A shooting in Tamaulipas that left two people dead ended at a Rio Grande Valley port of entry. Tamaulipas authorities are saying the shooting happened Tuesday on the Mexican side of the Los Indios International Bridge in the late afternoon. A Mexican customs employee was... more »

• Improvements for Commercial Traffic at Donna Int'l Bridge Underway Play Video

  October 16, 2019 8:38 AM

  DONNA – The Donna-Rio Bravo port-of-entry will soon handle commercial vehicles. The city of Donna says those commercial vehicles will not only bring goods to and from Mexico, it will also bring new jobs to the Rio Grande Valley. When the bridge was built in 2010, it was... more »

• Couple Caught Smuggling Over 20,000 Tramadol Pills at Brownsville Bridge Play Video

  September 4, 2019 6:11 PM

  BROWNSVILLE – A couple caught smuggling a dangerous drug through the border are facing federal charges. Maria Esperanza Garcia and Hector Fuentes-Gutierrez were arrested after entering the country with undeclared prescription medicine. The amount they were carrying exceeded personal use. It happened August 18 as they re-entered... more »

• Houston Woman Arrested after Drug Smuggling Attempt at Hidalgo Int'l Bridge

  July 22, 2019 3:02 PM

  HIDALGO – A Houston woman is in custody after attempting to smuggle methamphetamine through the Hidalgo port-of-entry. Customs and Border Protection says the 45-year-old tried driving through the bridge early Monday morning. Officers discovered 36 packs of the alleged narcotics hidden in the vehicle, weighing about 70 pounds.... more »

• Pharr Int’l Bridge Changes Hours of Operation to Implement Pilot Programs

  July 9, 2019 1:17 PM

  PHARR – Officials at the Pharr International Bridge announced new hours of operation in an effort to implement temporary pilot programs. According to a press release, the pilot programs are “designed to relieve congestion, increase truck throughput, and reduce border wait times” at the port of entry. The... more »

• Federal Government to Setup Additional Tent Facilities along Border Play Video

  July 1, 2019 6:21 PM

  WESLACO – The federal government is eyeing three new sites along the border to expand the Migrant Protection Protocols, a program also known as Remain in Mexico. One of the sites is in the Rio Grande Valley. The government seeks to construct temporary soft-sided facilities, or tents, that... more »

• McAllen Mayor Calls for Additional Re-enforcements at Int’l Ports of Entry Play Video

  June 5, 2019 6:08 PM

  MCALLEN – McAllen mayor is calling for re-enforcement at the international bridges. On Wednesday, Mayor Jim Darling told CHANNEL 5 NEWS he wants the federal government to increase the help in immigration issues especially on the bridges. He says border officials added barriers with concertina wire to prevent... more »

• Cuban Man Faces Federal Charges after Jumping Border Bridge Barrier Play Video

  June 4, 2019 11:57 AM

  HIDALGO – A Cuban man is facing federal charges for trying to run into the U.S. at a Rio Grande Valley bridge. It happened at the Hidalgo port of entry Monday. According to a court document, the man jumped over a barrier and ran from the Mexican side... more »

• CBP Seizes Over $18M Worth of Methamphetamine at Pharr Port-of-Entry

  May 21, 2019 11:10 AM

  PHARR – Customs and Border Protection officers seized $18.5 million worth of methamphetamine at a port-of-entry. It happened Friday at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge. The drugs were discovered by a K-9 officer in a tractor-trailer transporting a shipment of carrots. Officials found more than 350 packages of... more »

• Hidalgo Confiscating Bikes Left at Intl. Bridge Play Video

  May 13, 2019 5:13 PM

  HIDALGO - People riding into the U.S. from Mexico on bikes explain they’re being left stranded and forced to walk back. They bike over the bridge and park them nearby and take busses to where they need to go; by the time they get back their bikes are gone.... more »

• Int’l Bridges Remain Understaffed, Truckers Impacted Play Video

  April 30, 2019 10:31 PM

  PHARR – International bridges throughout the Rio Grande Valley remain understaffed since hundreds of Customs inspectors were reassigned to help Border Patrol process migrants. The acting secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, Kevin McAleenan, testified before lawmakers Tuesday about the need for help at the border. Truck... more »

• Immigration Tent Facilities to be Built near Port of Entry Play Video

  April 22, 2019 4:28 PM

  DONNA - An immigration tent facility being built in Donna will go up near the port of entry. Immigrants who cross the river to get into the U.S., instead of using an official port, will be able to use the facility, according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection... more »

• Additional Gates being Installed at Brownsville Port of Entry Play Video

  April 19, 2019 7:29 PM

  BROWNSVILLE – Gates are now installed at another port of entry along the border. It's part of what local officials describe as security enhancements. The changes were made this week in Brownsville. Those who approved that change say this is going to become standard in the Rio Grande... more »

• Acting DHS Secretary Announces Changes to Ease Crisis along Border Play Video

  April 17, 2019 5:29 PM

  HIDALGO – Changes announced Wednesday by the acting Department of Homeland Security secretary. Acting DHS Secretary Kevin McAleenan spoke at the Pharr-Reynosa port of entry. Although he’s new to the job, he says they’re taking quick action to address the growing immigration numbers. McAleenan said the Rio... more »

• Traffic Delays at International Bridges Impacting Valley Business Owners Play Video

  April 1, 2019 10:20 PM

  MCALLEN – Traffic delays continue at international bridges across the Rio Grande Valley. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers are being reassigned to help with the migrant surge. Some wait times at the bridges were doubled Saturday, which affected both commuters and business owners. KRGV’s Christian von... more »

• Pharr Port of Entry Closed to Passenger Vehicles due to Protesters Play Video

  April 1, 2019 6:19 PM

  PHARR – The Pharr port of entry is closed to passenger vehicles but commercial traffic is still allowed to travel southbound. The city of Pharr put up barricades Monday afternoon due to protesters on the Mexican side of the bridge. Viewers called CHANNEL 5 NEWS to report wait... more »

• State Dept. Monitoring Investigation of American Citizen Killed in Shooting at Port of Entry Play Video

  March 13, 2019 5:31 PM

  NEAR SAN BENITO – The state department says it is monitoring the investigation of a U.S. citizen who was killed in Mexico. A shooting took place last Thursday at the Los Indios Bridge. It claimed the life of Rocio Aledrete and injured several others. U.S. Customs and... more »

• Shooting Leaves 1 Dead, 3 Injured on Mexican Side of Border at Intl. Bridge Play Video

  March 7, 2019 5:40 PM

  UPDATE (3/8): The U.S. citizen who died in the shooting at an international bridge has been identified. Investigators confirm the victim was Rocio Aldrete, a notary public for a transmigrante business in Los Indios. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection official says the shooting happened just far enough... more »

• Man Arrested at Roma Port of Entry after Attempt to Hit CBP Officer Play Video

  March 4, 2019 4:36 PM

  ROMA – A man was arrested at the Roma port of entry after nearly hitting a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer. According to the federal complaint, the man refused to show proof of citizenship at the mid-bridge pre-inspection booth. Verbal threats nearly turned into a physical altercation... more »

• Border Patrol: No Changes to Asylum Process Play Video

  February 6, 2019 6:39 PM

  EAGLE PASS – Border Patrol is increasing their presence for the migrant caravan heading to Eagle Pass. The agency reiterated that there are not any changes to the current asylum process. The state and federal government is sending a message to members of the caravan. "If somebody... more »

• Presidential Visit to RGV Confirmed by White House Play Video

  January 9, 2019 12:53 PM

  WESLACO – President Donald Trump’s visit to the Rio Grande Valley has been confirmed by the White House. The visit will take place Thursday. The exact plans on where he will tour have not been released but he is expected to tour a port of entry. Air... more »

• Valley Gas Stations Busier Due to Long Lines in Mexico Play Video

  January 7, 2019 5:34 PM

  WESLACO – Rio Grande Valley gasoline stations are getting busier due to long lines in Mexico. More drivers from Mexico are filling up their tank while they have a chance in the valley. Drivers from Mexico are reporting long lines and closed stations in Mexico. Meanwhile, residents... more »

• 7 Mexican Officials Charged for Smuggling Weapons from US Play Video

  December 28, 2018 5:39 PM

  BROWNSVILLE – Seven Mexican border officers are charged with smuggling high-powered weapons into Mexico. They all reportedly worked at Rio Grande Valley port of entries. The Mexican newspaper El Mañana reports that the weapons and ammunition were being hidden within electrical equipment packed in cardboard boxes. Other... more »

• Lines at International Crossings Vary in Wait Times Play Video

  December 24, 2018 4:07 PM

  BROWNSVILLE – Lines at the international bridge are concerning local residents. Magdalena Martinez says it took her 10 minutes to get permission from federal agents to cross into the U.S. "It went well for us, there wasn't a lot of line. The crossing was fast and simple, we... more »

• Conflicted Reports Bring Uncertainty to Asylum Seekers Making Claims Play Video

  December 7, 2018 8:24 PM

  WESLACO – There are conflicting reports on whether asylum seekers are able to make their claims at the Hidalgo-Reynosa port of entry. Anyone who wants to request asylum has the legal right to do that at any port of entry. A study and reports from those working with... more »

• Honduran Family Seeking Asylum Faces Challenges at Port of Entry Play Video

  June 15, 2018 4:07 PM

  HIDALGO – Thousands of foreigners are crowding U.S. ports of entry to seek asylum . A Honduran family tells CHANNEL 5 NEWS the reason they are seeking asylum is because they were threatened. One family member says men who dressed as police threatened the family to leave or... more »