James A. Lomastro: All quiet on the Mexican border

My wife and I are in Mission, Texas, residing less than a mile from the border on one of our frequent trips to the area. Unlike Eagle Pass, the border area is quiet, almost serene. Much of the area in south Mission, Texas, is wildlife refuges, a state park, winter resorts for Midwesterners, and new housing developments.

There is no chaos here. Gov. Greg Abbott’s armada of wildlife patrol crafts sits idle in a park, and the only boat on the Rio Grande is a Mexican party boat and a few canoes.

I frequently take my bike along the river dikes, often between the wall and the river. Much of the area is unaffected by the troubles at the border, mainly because the communities here pull together and work with the Border Patrol, utilizing community resources to minimize the impact on the area.

Migrants here are processed through the well-run and respected Humanitarian Center in McAllen and sent to their sponsors, awaiting their hearing dates. For those seeking media and political advantage, there is no news here; simply citizens going about their lives.

James A. Lomastro

Conway