MCALLEN, Texas (KVEO)—Sen. John Cornyn, along with three other members of Congress, visited the Rio Grande Valley on Wednesday.

Sen. Cornyn was joined by Senator Kyrsten Sinema, and U.S. Representatives Henry Cuellar and Tony Gonzales.

The members of Congress toured the Border Patrol’s Donna Temporary Processing Center, the Dept. of Health and Human Services’ Delphi Emergency Intake Site, the McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge, and met with local elected officials, stakeholders, and law enforcement officials.  

During a press conference held at the McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge, the members of Congress explained the introduction of the Bipartisan Border Solutions Act.

“We seek practical, common-sense solutions, that will benefit the communities that we serve here in the United States,” said Sinema. “Our piece of legislation will not solve all of the challenges our country faces in the challenge of immigration, but it is a practical step.”

Cornyn’s office said the Bipartisan Border Solutions Act, which was introduced in May, responds to the surge in migrants coming across the southern border.

“All we are asking for is a balance between commerce, tourism, security in a bipartisan approach,” said Cuellar.

“America is built on immigrants, and we are also a nation of laws,” said Gonzales. “This sensible piece of legislation tries to tackle both of that.”

During the press conference, Cuellar stressed the importance of vaccine diplomacy.

“Laredo is allowing foreign tourists vaccinations,” said Cuellar. “You can fly from Mexico City, come in and they check it out with the state, so they are doing that.”

Ted Cruz: ‘The Donna facility is a giant tent city’

Last week, Sens. Cornyn and Sinema and Reps. Cuellar and Gonzales sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, requesting that DHS commit to a plan, benchmarks, and timeline for removing the restrictions to non-essential traffic through land ports of entry.

Sens. Cruz, Cornyn to visit the Rio Grande Valley in response to immigration ‘crisis’

Cornyn and Sinema said they are touring the Arizona-Mexico border region on Tuesday.

In March, Sens. Cruz and Cornyn led a Senate delegation in a tour of the Texas-Mexico border, which included a roundtable discussion with local stakeholders.