Cameron County Judge says biggest challenge also presents biggest opportunity

CAMERON, Texas — As the country prepares for a second term under President-elect Donald Trump, Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr. hopes his county will continue the economic boom from the last several years.

But he knows Trump has a mass deportation plan for anyone in the country illegally.

“If it deals with the fact of trying to deport criminals and illegals, or illegals or undocumented that are criminals, I don’t think anybody has any concern whatsoever,” Judge Treviño told us on Inside Texas Politics.

The judge says he’s constantly reminded of the fact that President Trump, during his first term, deported fewer people than President Barack Obama.

But Treviño also argues that not just anybody should be caught up in a deportation dragnet.

“The idea, though, of just rounding up individuals who may not have the documentation, but are currently part of the fabric of our region, of our state, of our country, they’re working, they’re being educated, they’re raising their family, they’re being productive members of our society and our country, I think that doesn’t sit well with a lot of individuals, a lot of entrepreneurs and a lot of people who watch and keep track of our economy,” said the Democrat.

Judge Treviño says the biggest challenge facing Cameron County in 2025 is also its best opportunity.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is headquartered in Boca Chica, in the southeastern corner of Cameron County.

While he says the company presents many challenges, including environmental concerns and noise pollution concerns from the sonic booms, the several billion dollar investment has transformed the community in many ways.

And he points to the fact that Musk wants to make SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft, designed to carry crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon and Mars, the next mode of space travel.

“Having those manufactured, tested here, obviously I think can bode well for us, so we want them to be successful,” Treviño said. “And obviously the relationship that Elon has established with the President-elect, I hope that that continues in a very positive manner.”