https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/nation-world/texas-border-mayor-immigration-crisis-rhetoric-hurts-citys-image/507-626970585
McAllen, Texas — The president addressed the nation Tuesday night, laying out his case on why border security must include a wall, after deeming the situation at the border as a ‘crisis’.
But what do those who run local governments at the border say?
“The ‘crisis’ doesn’t affect us, except the rhetoric does,” said McAllen Mayor Jim Darling.
McAllen is a booming border city in deep south Texas with over 140,000 residents. Darling often boasts that the city has one of the lowest crime rates in the nation.
“When you put the army, the National Guard, DPS, etc., it gives the illusion that we’re in a dangerous area,” said Darling. “When you talk about a crisis on the border, that adds to it.”
It’s an image problem that cities along the border have had to fight against for years throughout several presidential administrations, as bad publicity scares away investment, argues Darling.