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McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — The City of Laredo is allowing the State of Texas to build a segment of border wall on city-owned land near an international bridge.

In a 6 to 2 vote Monday, the Laredo City Council approved a lease easement of 1,600 feet — about one-third a mile — of city property near the Colombia Solidarity International Bridge, stirring controversy within the South Texas border community.

“We all know that a wall makes no sense,” said Catholic Sister Rosemary Welsh, who addressed councilmembers during public comment on Monday night. “Our city leaders need to find the courage to stand up for the truth.”

On Thursday, City Manager Joe Neeb issued a statement defending the decision, saying it “does not mark a shift in city policy or a retreat from protecting our riverfront. Instead, it reflects a strategic choice to remain engaged, preserve oversight, and ensure the city retains a seat at the table in conversations that were proceeding regardless of municipal participation.”

The land is to be used by the state’s Operation Lone Star, which has spent over $12 billion since 2021 on border security including building dozens of miles of border barrier.

“This decision was taken with the clear understanding that the State of Texas was moving forward with or without the City’s involvement. Approving the lease allows Laredo to maintain local control over how construction is coordinated, especially when it comes to emergency access, drainage infrastructure, and surrounding development impacts,” Neeb said.

Laredo is one of the last South Texas border cities to avoid border wall construction in recent years, and this decision does not sit well with border wall opponents.

“This is a shocking move by our city leaders,” Tannya Benavides, a local community organizer, said in a statement circulated by the Rio Grande International Study Center (RGISC), and the No Border Wall coalition. “The state came in and bullied their way into City Hall with threats and scare tactics, falsely making it seem like we had no options. It was very manipulative, and shows how they see us: just some small town that can be pushed around. It’s a huge sign of disrespect shown to our border community.”

Before the vote, RGISC Executive Director Tricia Cortez urged councilmembers to reject selling or giving away any city lands to the state for the potential construction of border fence or border wall.

“Tonight, for you it’s only about two slivers of land. But tomorrow it will be the whole riverfront because once they’re in, there’s no negotiation, no compromise that will assure the best interests of our community. And in this instance, dealing with the future expansion and growth that will be needed in and around the Colombia Brige the water will carve a massive path of destruction through Laredo homes, ranches, public spaces, churches and parks and divide us from the source of all life here, nuestro rio,” Cortez said to a resounding applause from those gathered at the meeting.

The council considered the item in closed executive session that included the state requesting the property “for the purposes of constructing, maintaining, operating, inspecting, and repairing border barrier infrastructure,” according to the agenda. Afterward, a majority voted in favor of it.

City Councilwoman Melissa Cigarroa, a longtime opponent of border wall structures, and founding member of the No Border Wall Coalition, voted against the measure. Her niece, Councilwoman Alyssa Cigarroa also voted against it.

Neeb said in a statement: “In recent days, many voices in our community have raised passionate and valid concerns about the State of Texas’ plans to construct a border barrier along certain areas of riverfront land within or near the City of Laredo. The City acknowledges this long-standing community resistance to physical border walls, and the pride that many Laredoans take in protecting the river as a cultural, environmental, and symbolic lifeline of our city.”

He said that in allowing this easement they believe it will allow the city “to advocate for alternative, non-wall security strategies in more sensitive and high-value areas of the river corridor,” which include downtown Laredo, a local golf course and a local trail system.

“This is a real estate transaction that makes no sense for our city’s growth and prosperity,” Laredo Planning and Zoning Commissioner Regina Portillo said.

Sandra Sanchez can be reached at [email protected].

Texas Mom Living in US for 39 Years Hugs Son Before ICE Detains Her

By Billal Rahman

Immigration Reporter

Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member

news article

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A Texas mother who has lived in the United States for nearly four decades was detained in her driveway by federal immigration agents, leaving her family devastated and fighting for her release.

Exclusive footage obtained by Newsweek shows Angela Cristina Gonzalez Cardona, 50, hugging her son, who is autistic, moments before masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents take her away outside her home in Laredo.

Her daughter, Claudia Gonzalez, told Newsweek Angela was preparing to leave for work in the early morning hours when ICE agents suddenly surrounded her vehicle.

Claudia claimed that ICE agents said that they "wouldn't leave empty-handed."

Newsweek has contacted ICE for further comment.

Claudia, who was not present at the scene, shared details of the incident based on what her family had recounted.

"She was pulling out of her driveway, and her boyfriend got out to move the trash cans. They parked in front and behind her and then started harassing my mom's boyfriend. They tried to take him, but he was telling them he was a U.S. citizen and showed his Texas ID," she said.

The officers then turned their focus to Angela, questioning her about her immigration status, Claudia said. She said that her mother explained that she was from El Salvador and had documentation proving she was legally allowed to remain in the U.S. while awaiting a decision on her Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) application.

VAWA is a federal law designed to provide protections for immigrant victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes. Under VAWA, eligible individuals may apply for legal status without the need for their abuser's cooperation. This law is a critical safeguard for many immigrant survivors of abuse who are otherwise at risk of deportation.

Despite her explanations, ICE agents allegedly refused to let her retrieve her documents and asked for information about another individual they claimed to be searching for. When she told them he no longer lived there, her boyfriend offered to take them to the individual in question, but they refused, according to Claudia.

Read more Texas

President Donald Trump has vowed to conduct large-scale deportations as his administration looks to remove millions of immigrants who have no legal status from the country as part of his campaign pledge.

Claudia's account is the result of that policy, the implementation of which troubles many Americans.

"They wanted to search her home and wanted to enter without a warrant," Claudia said.

"My mom's boyfriend stepped in and stated they couldn't if they didn't have one. They didn't have one for my mom, and I'm unsure if they had one for the other individual," she said.

"She asked to at least allow my little brother to take her things before she was taken in. She complied every step of the way. She assumed they'd give her a chance to show those documents but never allowed her to come back inside her home," she added.

Families Ripped Apart

Angela, who has lived in the U.S. since she was 11 years old, has three children: a 34-year-old son, 26-year-old Claudia, and her youngest son, 22, who is on the autism spectrum and depends heavily on her care.

"I'm feeling scared, stressed, and tired, but I just want to see her home. I would rather go through all of this if it means she gets home," Claudia said.

"My little brother is having a hard time adapting to my mom not being home when he's used to her taking care of him too," she added.

Angela is also diabetic and relies on Ozempic to manage her condition. Her family fears that she will not receive the necessary medical care in detention.

"She was supposed to take her injection yesterday," Claudia said, expressing concerns for her mother's health as she remains in a CoreCivic-run detention center.

After several calls from the family, she was finally given her medication and is now feeling slightly better.

Angela, who works as a carer, is currently being held at the Laredo Processing Center, a privately run detention facility.

A spokesperson for CoreCivic told Newsweek the company "takes the responsibility to care for the individuals in all of our facilities, including the Laredo Processing Center, very seriously."

"We operate with significant oversight and accountability from our government partners, adhering to all of ICE's rigorous standards, and we have our own detailed Human Rights Policy that clearly outlines our commitments regarding detainee rights and treatment, including legal rights, safety and security, healthcare, visitation and standards of living."

The Journey

Angela fled El Salvador as a child. She was sent to live with her sisters in the U.S. but later returned to El Salvador for a short period. At age 14, she had her first son in the U.S. but had to leave him in her grandmother's care for a few years before returning permanently.

In the U.S, Angela applied for protections under VAWA, supported by her lawyers.

Her detention has raised concerns among her family about whether proper procedures were followed.

A Daughter's Plea

Claudia, who works overnight shifts in Austin, Texas, usually drives for 3.5 hours every weekend to visit her mother and siblings.

"She's the whole reason I have a degree and a better future," she said. "I don't think I could live without her."

More than anything, Claudia is worried about her younger brother.

Claudia said he is having a hard time adapting to not having her around.

"My younger brother needs her the most, and he doesn't know any other life," Claudia said.

"He's used to her taking care of him too. My brother and her boyfriend are feeling anxious and stressed but attempting to keep things going," she said.

As her family fights for her release, they are urging people to support their GoFundMe fundraiser to cover legal costs and bring Angela back home.

"I just want my mom back," Claudia said. "I don't want her to be deported."

"I don't think I could live without her," she said.

The fight for Angela's freedom is far from over, but her children remain determined to bring her home.

One Walgreens in Laredo will permanently close next month after its parent company announced plans in October to close more than 1,000 stores nationwide.

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., which operates more than 8,700 stores in the U.S., revealed it would close 1,200 underperforming locations over three years as part of a footprint optimization program aimed at boosting profits and cash flow during its 2024 fiscal year earnings report.

“This turnaround will take time, but we are confident it will yield significant financial and consumer benefits over the long term,” said CEO Tim Wenworth.

The decision follows the company's struggles with low prescription reimbursement and online competitors. Approximately 500 stores are slated to close during its 2025 fiscal year.

Among the 500 stores set to close is the Walgreens at 1119 Guadalupe St.

The store informed customers of its closure through pamphlets placed on checkout counters and automated voice messages sent via pharmacy phone calls.

“This store and pharmacy will both close at 12 p.m.,” a pamphlet stated, listing the final day of operations as April 21, 2025. “We look forward to seeing you at any of our nearby locations.”

Martha Alvarez, a Walgreens shift lead, said the company did not specify why the store was closing, but she suspected it was part of the broader plan to shut down underperforming locations.

“I think that’s part of what’s going on, but specifically, I couldn’t give you an answer,” she said.

Walgreens later confirmed with LMT that the store was indeed closing due to “increased regulatory and reimbursement pressures” that affect the company’s ability to cover costs for rent, staffing and supply needs.

“It is never an easy decision to close a store,” Walgreens said, explaining the company does everything possible to improve store performance prior to a closing. “When closures are necessary, like the one in Laredo, we will work in partnership with community stakeholders to minimize customer disruptions.”

Walgreens stated that “a majority” of team members would transfer to other surrounding stores prior to closing, leaving a minority without employment.

Those who get their medication at the east Laredo location will have their prescription transferred to the Walgreens at 2219 E. Saunders St. Patients who get their prescriptions filled at this location do not need to take any action, Walgreens added.

“We encourage patients to speak to their pharmacist to learn how to set up this service,” they said.

March 26, 2025

Catholics are invited to join a faith-centered pilgrimage with the Diocese of Laredo next weekend.

The Diocese of Laredo announced a pilgrimage to San Agustin Cathedral coming Sunday, March 22 to receive the graces of the Jubilee Year — a universal time of reconciliation, pilgrimage and coming home — according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

During this year, called the Pilgrimage of Hope, the Catholic Church offers special graces, including a plenary indulgence. These graces are granted through spiritual acts performed during a pilgrimage, such as praying the Liturgy of the Hours, the rosary, adoration and receiving the sacraments, including penance and the Eucharist.

Through this, the Church grants what is called a jubilee or plenary indulgence, a special form of grace that removes all temporal punishment for sin, freeing the soul from the need to spend time in purgatory.

To be eligible for the indulgence, one must:

A partial indulgence, which offers a partial remission of the temporal punishment of sin, can be granted when a person does not fully meet the conditions for a plenary indulgence. This includes being in a state of grace. It still provides relief from the effects of sin, according to the Diocese of Laredo, “but to a lesser extent,” while allowing individuals to experience God’s mercy.

Pilgrims are encouraged to arrive at San Agustin Cathedral, 201 San Agustin Ave., at 10 a.m. to spend time in prayer for the Holy Father, Pope Francis and the Church. Bishop James A. Tamayo will celebrate Mass at 11 a.m.

Those physically unable to make the pilgrimage can participate in spirit by praying the Our Father, reciting the Creed, praying one of the prayers for the Holy Year and offering up their daily sufferings as an act of prayer.

For more information on the pilgrimage, contact the Diocese of Laredo at 956-727-2140 or email [email protected].

March 14, 2025

Reporter

Maria Ruiz is the Events / Breaking News Reporter at the Laredo Morning Times. Previously, she covered general and feature news across Hidalgo County for the Progress Times and the Edinburg Advocate. Ruiz is also a National Geographic Photo Camp 2023 alumni member and a NPR NextGenRadio | Texas Newsroom 2024 mentee. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in her hometown of Edinburg, Texas.

For tips, contact Ms. Ruiz at [email protected].

The new location is led by husband-and-wife duo Francisco Vallejo and Marisela Vallejo, who share a deep passion for business, food, and wellness. With a background in business administration, finance, and franchise management, Francisco has successfully led multiple businesses. However, the demanding nature of his work began to take a toll on his health, prompting the couple to reassess their priorities. Meanwhile, Marisela, a seasoned accountant with over 25 years of experience, has built a thriving accounting firm, where she continues to oversee a team of employees and serve a diverse range of clients. With an MBA in management, her financial expertise has been instrumental in their entrepreneurial journey. Together, their combined skills and commitment to healthier living led them to Toastique—a concept they know will bring something truly special to Laredo.

"After facing challenges in my own health journey, I realized it was time to make a change—prioritizing exercise and clean eating became essential," said Francisco Vallejo, co-franchisee and owner of Toastique Laredo. "Now, my wife and I are committed to nourishing our bodies with wholesome, high-quality ingredients, and we wanted to bring a concept to Laredo that reflects those values. The community deserves more health-conscious dining options, and we’re excited to introduce Toastique’s fresh, responsibly sourced menu to our hometown."

Highlights of the health-conscious menu include the Avocado Smash Toast (avocado, watermelon radish, marinated tomatoes, chili oil, and microgreens on multigrain toast), Tomato Burrata Toast (herbed ricotta, pesto, tomatoes, burrata, basil, olive oil and balsamic glaze on rustico toast) and PB Crunch Toast (honey roasted peanut butter, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, berry jam, granola, peanuts, honey drizzle, and mint on walnut-raisin toast). The concept offers a variety of bowls, including the popular Dragonberry Bowl (pitaya -dragon fruit, mango, strawberry, agave, and coconut water topped with strawberry, kiwi, goji berry, coconut, granola, and honey drizzle). Guests can also enjoy freshly blended smoothies, such as the Green Machine Smoothie (banana, pineapple, mango, spinach, kale, hemp seeds, flax seeds, lime, and coconut water). Toastique offers a variety of coffee options such as Iced Americano, Flat White and Iced Collagen Lattes. The brand is also known for their cold-pressed juices that are made in-house each morning with fresh ingredients and nutrients, with no added sugars or preservatives; popular juices include the Balance Cold-Pressed Juice (celery, cucumber, apple, kale, romaine, spinach, parsley, lemon, and ginger) and Radiance Cold-Pressed Juice (grapefruit, orange, blood orange, pineapple and basil).

“Opening Toastique feels like the start of an exciting new chapter for me and my husband,” said Marisela Vallejo, co-franchisee and owner of Toastique Laredo. “Francisco and I have worked hard our entire lives, and now, we’re thrilled to embark on something that truly feels like our own. We love Toastique and can’t wait to share it with the Laredo community—we’re confident they’ll love it just as much as we do.”

Originating in 2018 in Washington, D.C., Toastique has garnered national acclaim for its fresh and artistic approach to crafting exquisite food grounded in paying homage to the natural beauty and simplicity found in responsibly sourced ingredients. Employing fresh produce and curating unique, thoughtful flavor combinations, Toastique has cultivated a rich menu of enticing and health-conscious toasts, smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and more.

SOURCE Toastique

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