Mission Accomplished: With all going as planned, Obama will visit Texas, sees no need to visit border

7/9/2014

President Obama will be traveling to the lone star state for two days this week but has no plans to stop in the Rio Grande Valley.

With the nation's focus on the border crisis, many people in the valley feel the president should be coming to the valley to see the immigration influx first hand.

The president is asking Congress for a $3.8 billion to stem the tide of immigrants crossing the border but has made no plans to see where that money will be spent.

Obama will be stopping in Austin for a democratic fundraiser Wednesday, just a five hour drive north to the Rio Grande Valley.

Although several members of Congress from both sides of the aisle have made their way to the Rio Grande Valley to witness the immigration influx and government response, Obama has made no plans to see it for himself.

Local governments like McAllen and Hidalgo County have spent tens of thousands of dollars in what Obama himself calls a ‘humanitarian crisis’ and were hoping for a visit from the man who can bring some relief to the local demands.

"I was hopeful if he was close by that he would come down and look first hand at the situation," Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia said.

Rio Grande City Mayor Ruben Villarreal voiced his frustration on Twitter.

"I dont get it! Why is obama refusin 2 come 2 th border&see th immigrationcrisis 1sthand.raisin $ can wait.our immigration issues should not!" the mayor tweeted.

Even immigration advocacy groups like La Union de Pueblo Entero (LUPE), who has praised the president over his deferred action program, are not happy with the administration's response.

"The administration has been very slow in responding to this issue,” LUPE spokesperson John Michael Torres said. “It’s an issue that has been growing for the last four years and it's an issue the administration should have responded to a lot sooner."

Whether the president decides to come or not, groups like LUPE said they will continue calling for change they can believe in.

"It falls to us to pressure the administration to act decisively," Torres said.

Although Obama's main priority for his Texas visit is raising money for Democratic political contributions, he will be meeting with Governor Rick Perry to discuss the growing concern along the border.

Perry requested the meeting with the president after he turned down the president's invitation to greet Obama at the tarmac in Austin.

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