🚨🩺 Rio Grande Valley’s Largest Free Health Clinic Canceled Over Federal Cuts
🗳️ Harlingen Doctor Becomes First Democrat to Challenge Monica De La Cruz for South Texas Seat 🚨 Trump’s Goal to Hire 10,000 New ICE Agents Faces Major Hurdles
🚨🩺 Rio Grande Valley’s Largest Free Health Clinic Canceled Over Federal Cuts
Berenice Garcia, The Texas Tribune.- Operation Border Health, the Rio Grande Valley’s largest annual free health clinic, has been canceled for the first time in 26 years due to federal funding cuts. The event, which served over 6,600 people last year with free medical, dental, and vision services, was scrapped after the Texas Department of State Health Services saw a 28% reduction in CDC funding for its Public Health Emergency Preparedness program. The cancellation deals a major blow to a region where up to 31% of residents are uninsured and chronic illnesses like diabetes and hypertension are prevalent. Local health officials cite staffing shortages and the strain on remaining resources as key factors behind the decision. Advocates warn the loss will widen healthcare gaps for low-income communities, especially as the start of the school year approaches.
📌 Key Facts
Event Canceled: Operation Border Health, serving the uninsured since 1999.
Reason: $100,000 cut in Cameron County; $165,000 cut in Hidalgo County preparedness funding.
Impact: Loss of key staff, reduced capacity to manage health crises.
Uninsured Rates: 27-31% in the Rio Grande Valley.
Common Conditions: High rates of poverty, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.
⚠️ Why It Matters
Health Equity: Cuts hit one of Texas’s poorest, least insured regions hardest.
Children Affected: Fewer resources for school-required health services.
Broader Trend: Reflects shrinking federal investment in local public health after pandemic relief ends.
🗳️ Harlingen Doctor Becomes First Democrat to Challenge Monica De La Cruz for South Texas Seat
Gabby Birenbaum, The Texas Tribune.- Ada Cuellar, a Harlingen emergency physician, launched her campaign for Texas's 15th Congressional District, becoming the first Democrat to challenge GOP Rep. Monica De La Cruz in 2026. Cuellar aims to reclaim the Rio Grande Valley seat that Democrats lost in 2022 and failed to regain in 2024, as Republicans continue to consolidate Latino support in the region. Cuellar plans to focus on healthcare, criticizing GOP Medicaid cuts and advocating for affordable services and increased medical resources in the area. The district, which spans from Hidalgo County to near San Antonio, leans Republican, and De La Cruz won reelection by 14 points in the last cycle. Democrats view health care as a key issue to regain ground, while Republicans express confidence in De La Cruz’s reelection.
📌 Key Facts
Democratic Challenger: Dr. Ada Cuellar, ER physician from Harlingen.
Republican Incumbent: Rep. Monica De La Cruz, the first GOP winner of TX-15 in 2022.
District Makeup: 75% Latino, shifted Republican in 2024 (Trump won Hidalgo County with 51%).
Democratic Strategy: Focus on health care, Medicaid/ACA cuts, and district hospital needs.
Potential Rival: Tejano singer Bobby Pulido has hinted at a run.
📂 Appeals Court Orders Release of Uvalde School Shooting Records
Ayden Runnels, The Texas Tribune.- A Texas appeals court has ordered Uvalde County and its school district to release records related to the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting, siding with 18 news organizations, including The Texas Tribune. The court rejected arguments from Uvalde officials and District Attorney Christina Mitchell that ongoing criminal and civil cases justified withholding the documents, which include body camera footage and 911 calls. The ruling advances transparency in a case scrutinized for law enforcement’s delayed response, as 19 students and two teachers were killed. Former Uvalde school police chief Pete Arredondo, facing child endangerment charges, is set for trial in October. Laura Prather, the media coalition’s attorney, called the decision a victory for public accountability after more than three years of stonewalling. The Uvalde school board will discuss the release of the records on July 21; however, no timeline was specified for when the documents must be made public.
🚨 Texas Judge Dismisses Case Against Migrant Deported to El Salvador for Alleged Gang Ties
Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune.- A Texas judge dismissed misdemeanor trespassing charges this week against Pedro Luis Salazar-Cuervo, a Venezuelan migrant accused by state troopers of belonging to the Tren de Aragua gang. Despite the dismissal, Salazar-Cuervo, 28, remains imprisoned in El Salvador’s notorious Terrorism Confinement Center after being deported without facing trial. Texas officials cited a photo of him with another man bearing tattoos as evidence of gang affiliation, though Salazar-Cuervo has no tattoos and no criminal record. His attorney, Rick Treviño, called the deportation "a shock to the conscience," highlighting the lack of due process. The case underscores concerns over flimsy evidence behind Texas’s sweeping border crackdown under Gov. Greg Abbott and President Trump’s designation of Tren de Aragua as a terrorist group. DHS defended its actions, citing intelligence but providing no specifics.
🚨 Trump’s Goal to Hire 10,000 New ICE Agents Faces Major Hurdles
Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times.- President Trump’s plan to hire 10,000 new ICE agents and 3,000 new Border Patrol officers faces steep challenges despite unprecedented funding. History shows that past recruitment drives struggled with long timelines, high rejection rates among applicants, and increased corruption. Experts warn that mass hiring efforts risk lowering standards, leading to abuse, wrongful deportations, and infiltration by organized crime. ICE recruitment is further hindered by low pay compared to that of big-city police. Some fear reliance on contractors, military, or the controversial 287(g) program to meet Trump’s goals, risking civil rights violations and further eroding trust in law enforcement.