LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas visited Laredo today.

The secretary made the trip to the Gateway City with other Washington dignitaries.

The group met at the IBC building on Jacaman with Border Patrol chiefs from various sectors.

Immigration and migrant caravans were some of the topics expected to be discussed.

The Laredo Sector Border Patrol acknowledged today’s event and are awaiting an official statement from Washington D.C. to share.

Due to the high-security level for the event, our cameras were not allowed to film any portion of the meeting.

LAREDO, TX. (KGNS) - A U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer is facing charges of bribery and attempting to import drugs into the U.S.

Thirty-five-year-old Emanuel Celedon working out of a Laredo Port of Entry allegedly accepted money in exchange for allowing someone to come into the country with several kilograms of cocaine.

According to reports, the events took place over the month of Oct.

If convicted Celedon faces up to 15 years in jail and a $250,000 fine.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - With Christmas and the new year right around the corner, many paisanos living in the United States are gearing up for the annual trek through Laredo to get to their families in Mexico.

The Mexican Consulate in Laredo says they are ready to welcome and assist the hundreds of paisanos headed across the border.

The caravan will begin at the Sames Auto Arena on December 18th.

Carlos Gonzalez, representing the Mexican Consulate, says last year more than 2,000 families signed up for the paisano caravan.

Some of the paisanos arriving are from states like Florida, Illinois, and Georgia.

Gonzalez tells us, “Many departments from the City of Laredo will partake in this event. The city police department will provide security during the gathering, but the principal office that is gathering everybody is the tourist office of the city, and they are organizing everything that needs to be done.”

Gonzalez says so far more than 600 families have registered for the caravan.

Some of the paisanos destinations are to the state of Queretaro, Guanajuato, and Hidalgo.

RIO BRAVO, TX (KGNS) - Three people are injured following a crash involving a tractor trailer over the weekend.

The accident happened on Saturday at around 4:40 p.m. near Highway 83 passing Los Botines.

According to reports, the 18-wheeler driver was trapped inside the vehicle until officials arrived.

Three people were injured, one of which was believed to be in serious condition.

We’ll have more information once it becomes available.

Freer, Tx. (KGNS) - Border Patrol agents remove more than three million dollars worth of hard drugs off the streets.

The seizure happened last Wednesday when an agent working out of Freer, Texas helped a Duval County Sheriff’s Deputy with a vehicle stop.

An inspection of the vehicle found something suspicious with the rear bumper.

When they looked closer, they found several bundles of what turned out to be meth.

The drugs weighed roughly 112 pounds and had a value of more than 3-and a half million dollars.

The driver was arrested and taken into custody.

LA SALLE COUNTY, TX . (KGNS) - An 18-wheeler crash is causing major traffic congestion on the southbound lane of I-35.

An image provided by Hammrod News shows a tractor trailer damaged on the interstate.

According to the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office, a portion of the southbound lane has been closed off.

Traffic is being diverted to the west access road.

No word on any injuries at the moment.

Drivers are being advised to expect delays.

WEBB COUNTY, TX (KGNS) - The Webb County Elections Office is getting ready for the March primary elections and officials are advising potential voters that it has mailed out new voter registration certificates that are expected to go out next week.

New voter registration certificates are mailed out to all registered voters in the county every two years.

Voters are encouraged to check the information on their new certificate for accuracy and then keep them as a reference for the upcoming elections.

Webb County Elections Administrator Jose Luis Castillo said they are printing roughly 127,000 voter registration cards.

“We’re just asking everyone, they don’t have to return them unless somebody no longer lives at the home, or is no longer a resident,” said Castillo. “We ask that you please return them, don’t keep them, or if someone is deceased, please just write on the card the reason that you are returning them, put them back in the mail, get them back to us because then we will put them on cancelation or suspension so we can remove them from our voter registration list but we are printing them out and they are going out soon.

Corrections or changes can be made on the back of the card and sent to the elections office for processing.

If you do not receive your new voter registration card by the end of the month, you are encouraged to call the elections office at 956-523-4050.