I have lived in Brownsville for 8 years, and I can confidently say that it is as safe as any other city in the United States. When driving a car, make sure the license plate on the car matches one from a state along the U.S.-Mexican border. Our folks came here before these policies they crossed illegally, Ms. Garcia said. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Our mission is to provide a digital resource with original insights on lifestyle and travel experiences. Lets start with three cities that are directly on the border with Mexico: Laredo, Brownsville and Hidalgo. But if some outsiders think Texas border towns have become "war zones" during the 20-year high in border crossings, the chiefs say that's far from reality. About 70 percent of them are Haitians, she said, with many others coming from Africa, from Ghana down to Angola plus the Congo.. In March, more than 7,000 migrants crossed the border per day on average, sending overall border crossings past 220,000, the most in more than two decades. Eagle Pass is racist. Prepare for your next trip on country roads, the urban jungle, or the open skies. The crossing is called Colombia. mass releases that strained border communities, have been returning to their countries of origin, have reached a $1.17 million settlement against the U.S. government and federal agents, crackdown on the labor exploitation of migrant children, could disqualify the vast majority of migrants. So ensuring safe working conditions and fair wages, paid maternal and parental paternal leave and health benefits for hardworking folks strengthens the foundations of our economic system. Real state in McAllen is a great opportunity for individuals and families who are looking for a place to call home. Don't overlook the shops in Del Rio. That's part of being Texan, I guess. Population: 2,707 Cost of Living: 27.2% Below Texas Average Crime Rate: 67.5% Below Texas Average, Rio Hondo tops this portion of our list as the cheapest small town to live in Texas due. The city's wide selection of curios is especially popular in November when visitors look to get a head start on holiday shopping. We broke our study down into two main categories: We prioritized places that offer a low cost of living, affordable homes, excellent livability, and low crime rates. Brownsville Texas. 4 Main Reasons (Fully Explained), 9 Best Places to Live in Texas for Weather Least Humid Cities in Texas & Mildest Temperatures, Is El Paso a Good Place to Live? It is safe to drive to Mexico from Texas if you take the proper precautions. Kenzi Abou-Sabe is a reporter and producer in the NBC News Investigative Unit. Threatening crime and kidnapping exists because of the competition between transnational criminal groups for control of the border area. Customs and Border Protection says it has seized at least 1,000 pounds of cocaine and 1,000 pounds of meth on this stretch of the border this year. Here is our terms & conditions that stipulates how you can use this site. There is no doubt that this is a very enjoyable place to visit. At 16 we were clubbing and bar hopping every weekend without a care in the world. The home prices in Pharr average around $140,000 to $150,000. Texas and Mexico have a lot of crossover due to their close proximity, shared history, cultural similarities, and close trade ties. 2. Of all the Texas border towns, locals claim this is the cleanest and friendliest. We also looked at cities that were near the border and looked at how they compared to other Texas cities of similar size. Three riversthe Rio Grande, the Pecos, and the Devilsall converge here to form one of the largest lakes in Texas, with more than 850 miles of shoreline. In Eagle Pass, a center run by Mission: Border Hope, a nonprofit organization, was assisting about a dozen people this week, mostly families from Ecuador and Cuba. Thank you for all the information! It is very helpful. We are crossing in three days and at times so much of the information found online makes me LAREDO, Texas ( Border Report) Two South Texas cities on the Mexican border have been named among the top 20 safest cities in America, There have been no major Its a great place to stop in between Reynosa and Laredo because its about two hours south of them. Population: 2,984 Cost of Living: 21.7% Below Texas Average Crime Rate: 43.1% Below Texas Average. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. I dont want to criticize Border Patrol. The migrant releases are spurring debates in towns along the border. I dont know anybody.. Residents here love Pharr due to its low cost of living compared to the bigger cities that surround it. So, lets dive right into the list and discover the cheapest and safest places in Texas to live in where you can relocate to help you save some cash and also keep you safe. Its combination of amenities, low cost living, and safety makes it one of the top cheapest small towns to live in Texas. Be sure to carry some proof of U.S. citizenship, just in case you have problems. PHARR, Texas Every week, chiefs of police from the Rio Grande Valley meet for breakfast at the Junction Cafe in this border town to eat machacado con huevo and swap stories. In this case, Harvey recalled, "they were left to fend for themselves to the point where one of them snuck out and called us, 911, the local police, to come help them because they were pretty much left alone.". Border Patrol agents struggle as migrant crossings surge, Numbers of migrant children surge at southern border, New images from inside Texas migrant facility. We focused only on South Texas cities, since they are easier to compare statistically to other cities in the state El Paso has 150,000 fewer people than the city it is behind (Fort Worth) and 200,000 more people than it is ahead of (Arlington), meaning there was no city to compare it to. The Friendliest Little Border Town in Texas - Southern Living Where to eat: At La Macarena Restaurant and Bar, located off the main street at 295 Madero, the steaks and homemade fries are wonderful, plus they're reputed to have the best margaritas in town. McALLEN/BROWNSVILLE, Texas (KVEO) F.B.I. I do the same thing.". These two citiesDel Rio, Texas, and Ciudad Acua, Mexicocall themselves sisters. You should keep your drivers license in good condition for at least another six months, just as you would your passport. B& M, Gateway, and Veterans Memorial bridges are the three major US-Mexican border crossing points between Matamoros, Mexico, and Brownsville, Texas. Greg Abbott of Texas raised an alarm this week about the Biden administrations separate decision to admit thousands of children and teenagers who arrived at the border without a parent or guardian, cautioning that the children could spread the coronavirus. We also took into consideration the livability and quality of life in each place to ensure that they are actually desirable towns and cities to live in. Logistically, it will be a nightmare, said Mayor Javier Villalobos of McAllen, Texas, the largest city in the sector that is typically the epicenter of Southwest border crossings, the Rio Grande Valley. McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez, Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra, Brownsville Police Chief Felix Sauceda and Pharr Police Chief Andy Harvey meet for breakfast at the Junction Cafe on May 26 to talk about how the migrant surge is affecting their cities. In Ciudad Acua, the new Best Western Villa Real is just minutes from the border crossing. is also just 15 minutes from downtown Roma, where you can hike or fish in the Falcon International Reservoir on the Rio Grande. It is located about 2 hours southwest of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which makes it convenient enough to get to the big cities, but far enough away to enjoy its small town charm in peace. We bought him a bus ticket, the mayor said. KTSA News decided to compare the border cities to cities in Texas of a similar size to see if they were truly safer than cities located in other parts of the state. We are increasing our capacity to process new arrivals, evaluate asylum requests, and quickly remove those who do not qualify for protection. While the vast majority of Texas is perfectly safe, there are some areas that are best avoided. Because prices, dates, and other specifics are subject to change, please check all information to make sure it's still current before making your travel plans. On recent calls with Biden administration staff members, McAllen officials have asked for more funding. According to the Citizens Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice of Mexico, a think tank, Jurez is ranked sixth on a list of the worlds most violent cities in 2021. It sits right on the edge of the stunning, home value in Los Fresnos is over $100,000 cheaper than the Texas state average, with homes costing just $160,000 to $170,000, . It has slowly grown the amount of Russians that are coming to Mexico to request asylum due to the situation in the region, So far, they said, they havent been given a guarantee. We've already exceeded that number here in the Rio Grande Valley this fiscal year," Hastings said. More than 9,500 children and teenagers were in federally managed shelters this week, according to Biden administration officials. When traveling throughout the country, these are generally regarded as the safest mode of transportation, and you only have one option to get to your destination. They're going to New York," he said. McALLEN/BROWNSVILLE, Texas (KVEO) F.B.I. This is a national issue that needs to be addressed with a national solution.. , which is about $40,000 cheaper than the values in neighboring McAllen. In Yuma, a city of 96,000 in southwest Arizona, Mayor Douglas J. Nicholls said border authorities had released more than 1,300 migrants in his city since mid-February. The average home values in Rio Grande City are also an affordable $110,000 to $120,000, while its cost of living is about 20% below the Texas average, making it an affordable place to relocate to. We have to give them all the credit in the world for accomplishing the statistics.. It is already happening in some places, prompting some mayors and other local officials to appeal for federal help. Where to stay: There are many chain motels in Del Rio, including the Ramada Inn. I'm a local from Monterrey, Mexico and a regular user of the highways that conects my city with the Texas' borderline. If you can tell me the exact I believe we will be able to manage the numbers of people that may be released by Border Patrol to us, she said. Facebook/Town of Trophy Club. And here are some other notable San Antonio area statistics from 2016 to compare crime rates to: KTSA is a part of Alpha Media LLC. 2023 Alpha Media LLC. "Scratch the plate. [We] will continue to regularly engage with all stakeholders to provide updates and hear their feedback, the spokesman said. Indeed, you can cross the border with few hassles here. They share the banks of the Rio Grande, which forms the international border. Federal agents are so busy processing newly apprehended migrants that local police have to do some of their other jobs like raiding stash houses, busting coyotes or saving border crossers suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion. Alma Ruth, founder and director of the faith-based nonprofit Practice Mercy Foundation, says that in the Mexican town of Reynosa alone, there are about 300 Russians waiting to cross the Rio Grande into South Texas. What it does is it ties up the hands of my federal partners," Guerra said. Rates of both violent and property crime dropped when compared to recent years, making Trophy Club a great place to call home. Population: 79,112 Cost of Living: 18.5% Below Texas Average Crime Rate: 24.9% Below Texas Average. You can easily cross the border here for great food, entertainment, and the exhilarating atmosphere of Mexico.". Stop by The White Horse Leather Store for cowboy boots, belts, saddles, and spurs. Edinburg is a Texas border town that sits just 20 minutes from the U.S.-Mexico border and the Mexican border town of Reynosa. In particular, the cities of El Paso and Laredo, which are located on the border, have seen an uptick in crime in recent years. If you are driving a car, you will not need a Mexican drivers license, insurance, or registration. It is a good idea to thoroughly review your insurance policy before bringing your car to Mexico. "If you look back to 2014, a year which we saw a record number of children crossing the border, or 2019, we also were around 35,000 for the whole fiscal year. Elsewhere on the border, Mr. Nicholls, the mayor of Yuma, said he was encouraged two weeks ago after he reached out to the White House about the arriving migrants and had a meeting set up within 24 hours actually a very quick response, he said. What countries have they come from and what Covid variants have they been exposed to? Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. If you need to drive after dark, I always recommend taking the Cuota roads, but especially if you have to drive after dark. Rodriguez said he wants everyone to know that immigrants crossing the border don't stop at the border, meaning any border crisis is a national one. These numbers are the 2016 crime statistics compiled by the FBI and Texas Department of Public Safety. I order you to use all resources and tools available to , making it one of the top cheap small towns in Texas to relocate to with your family. Casa Uxmal has the best selection of Mexican pewter, Talavera pottery, and pine furniture. This location was once used to shake hands with several U.S. and Mexican presidents. All of these factors, in addition to poor street lighting and wandering animals, should be considered while driving at night. Roma, Texas is another border city deep in South Texas that is a quiet and simple area and features the Roma Historic District as well as numerous restaurants across the city. If you are crossing by water, you will need to use a seaport or airport. They're going to Dallas. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Children participate in a Families Belong Together demonstration on the steps of San Francisco City Hall. Crime has even decreased 17% in the last year, making it one of the top cheap small towns in Texas to relocate to with your family. Then, we filtered the list to only include places that had a cost of living and crime rates lower than the Texas state averages using official data from the government and the FBI via AreaVibes. Insider's tip: Check your insurance policy before taking your car into Mexico. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. The three rivers that make up this lake converge to form a massive body of water with more than 850 miles of shoreline. Brownsville is Cameron Countys seat near the western Gulf Coast. In his town, Mr. McLaughlin said, he has noticed an increase in what he believes are undocumented migrants traveling through as they circumvent Border Patrol checkpoints. Texas cities crime rates ranged from 6 to 371, with an average score of 48. In McAllen, Texas, which has been one of the main centers of migration into the United States, Border Patrol agents have eased the effects of newly arriving migrants by coordinating releases with local officials and nonprofit groups. "They're thinking the sky is falling here," said another of the breakfast crew, Victor Rodriguez, chief of police in neighboring McAllen. Mexico is listed as a Level 3 risk overall by the US State Department, which recommends exercise increased caution.. The cost of living here is cheap, with average home values that are around $90,000 to $100,000, according to Zillow. Most immigrants apprehended in the Rio Grande Valley who are allowed into the U.S. to make asylum claims pass through McAllen to board buses or flights to the cities where they will make their cases in court. WebI moved away for college but I can tell you what it was like in the 90s. WebTexan Cities That Border Mexico. As the Biden admin readies to end Covid restrictions at the border, officials from one Texas city want help from D.C. to cope with an expected migrant surge. Outsiders may think "the sky is falling" on the Texas border as crossings surge, say local cops, but their towns are safe, even if their jobs have changed. The 12 Best Places to Live in Texas 2023 Update with Fresh Data, Why is Texas so Cheap to Live in 2023? Mi Tierra is known for its tasty salsa con crema and is an excellent spot for more traditional meals. If you don't want to spring for the extra coverage, park your car at the border, and walk across the International Toll Bridge, or you can take a taxi or bus into Ciudad Acua. Re: Top 5 safest & top most dangerous Mexico/Texas border No, it's not safe. Some top attractions in the area include the Harlingen Arts & Heritage Museum, Iwo Jima Memorial & Museum, and the Hugh Ramsey Nature Park in nearby Harlingen. Lake Amistad is the embodiment of the friendship between the two countries. In the past few years, there has been a lot of violence, but it seemed to me that the majority of it had to do with drug cartels versus police. They are harmless, he said, and, in any case, there is a substantial new law enforcement presence in town. Its no secret that La Macarena Restaurant and Bar has some of the best margaritas in town. This affluent Dallas-Fort Worth suburb claimed the title of the safest city in Texas in 2021. This is especially true in many Mexican-owned businesses in Texas, as well as a large number of Mexicans who live in the state. It is another border city in the south part of Texas and is literally right across from Mexico. To reach the Consulate General in Hermosillo, dial 52 81-8047-3145 or 52 669-916-7531. During the second incident, Breitbart Texas was posted near the crime scene as a lone gunman exited his vehicle and fired at another motorist amid a verbal altercation. Corpus Christi, Texas, is easily reached from Edinburg via U.S. Highway 77 in just 2 1/2 hours. Meanwhile, the city offers several attractions, like the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse Museum and World Birding Center, which is now a museum and nature preserve, as well as the 7,000 seat Payne Arena that features concerts, sports, and other live events. Most of the adults being released into border communities have been scheduled for court appearances to review their petitions to remain in the country. The Charro Days Fiesta in Brownsville, Texas Celebrates Bi-National Unity and Culture, McAllen Delights with Innovative Cuisine and Vibrant Art, 20 Affordable Family Vacations You Haven't Thought Of Before, 18 Perfect Fall Girlfriend Getaways To Plan Immediately, 9 Southern Trips to Add to Your Retirement Bucket List. Nov 3, 2021 "The reality has been that we've been decreasing crime that same period of time, as opposed to increases in crime.". This city is also the safest on the list, with crime rates that are 55% lower than the rest of the state. ", Friends Donna Moody, Linda Dorris, Terry Pool, and Janice Petty, all from San Angelo, have long planned regular shopping excursions to Ciudad Acua. We hope these lists of the cheapest and safest towns and cities in Texas to live in have given you some insight into which places across The Lone Star State can provide you with an affordable and safe community. I have only four deputies working for a 3,200-square-mile county and 110 miles of border, said the Val Verde County sheriff, Joe Frank Martinez, whose department patrols the borderlands around Del Rio. "We're doing the rescues out in the rural areas of the county [where] these immigrants find themselves in peril. Texas must remain the best place to open up a business and find a job that pays a fair The U.S.-Mexico border is a hotbed of violence. If you do not have insurance, you will be unable to claim damages in Mexico. Drug and human smugglers do cross through their cities. There is a high risk of kidnapping in the Sonora, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and border regions. "Oh, oh, oh, cuando caliente el sol," they finish in unison, the last of the popular ballad melting into the velvety darkness of the night. Hastings also said the record number of children crossing the border is taking a considerable amount of manpower. As the sun floats on the horizon in Del Rio, Texas, this warm Friday evening, cars pour across the U.S.-Mexico border, clogging Hidalgo Street into the town of Ciudad Acua. The mayor, Jim Darling, said migrant families were being driven by the Border Patrol to Laredo or put on planes to El Paso, so that the local immigrant services system in McAllen was not overwhelmed. Fulshear. Because of the spiking volume of border crossers, about 40 percent of federal border agents in the Rio Grande Valley are busy simply processing those who have been caught or who have reported to legal ports of entry, Border Patrol Sector Chief Brian Hastings said.