By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Val Verde County residents are invited to attend a town hall-style meeting Thursday to discuss ongoing issues related to the border and the large number of immigrants crossing it this year.
The meeting, titled “Let’s Talk About the Border Crisis: Getting the Facts Straight,” is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, at the Living Stone Worship Center, 190 Western Drive. The meeting is free and open to the public.
Kinney County resident Kelly Perry, who has helped plan similar events in Kinney County, organized the meeting.
Perry said Friday the meeting would showcase talks by Val Verde County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. and Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez. She said she believes it is important for citizens to hear the facts directly from their elected officials.
“Sometimes we feel like we just don’t know the real news about what is happening in Del Rio, the day-to-day situation of the ever-changing border, such as what is the number of illegal (immigrants) coming and what countries are they coming from?” Perry said.
Perry also said she believes citizens “were pretty overwhelmed” during the influx of an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 Haitian immigrants who camped under the Del Rio International Bridge in September.
“Not knowing what to expect day to day left the citizens worried about the plans of the city, county, state and federal law enforcement to combat these numbers. There are also the rumors of what may be coming in future weeks, especially with some of the crazy videos we have seen on social media about another migrant caravan and the aggression they are willing to show,” Perry said.
“I just felt citizens might benefit from a first-hand chance to speak with Judge Owens and Sheriff Martinez. We have been having border town hall meetings in other counties. We have found it helps to know the facts straight from the leaders making those decisions and their thoughts of how best to prepare, just in case a mass of immigrants come this way again,” she added.
Owens said he plans to speak briefly about how the border situation has affected Val Verde County overall, adding he looks forward to answering citizens’ questions.
Martinez said he plans to give a short presentation on the law enforcement aspects of the border situation as it relates to Val Verde County.
After the talks by Owens and Martinez, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions of the two county officials.
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