Gov. Greg Abbott discusses ongoing security preparations at Texas-Mexico border, lays out action plan
Governor Abbott Provides Update In Mission On Texas' Ongoing Border Security Preparations For Incoming Migrant Caravans (Office of Gov. Greg Abbot)
Governor Greg Abbott held a press conference Friday at the Anzalduas International Bridge in Mission on the ongoing border security preparations for the Texas-Mexico border.
Abbott’s press conference followed a border security briefing with Operation Lone Star officials and National Guard soldiers in Weslaco.
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The governor was joined by Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, Texas National Guard Major General Ronald W. Burkett II, and Texas Department of Public Safety Deputy Director Freeman Martin.
“The State of Texas has been working for the past month on preparations for the latest approaching caravans because the Biden Administration is failing to do its job of securing the nation’s borders,” Abbott said. “We know elements of the caravans are disbanding to some extent, but smaller groups of migrants are still headed straight to our border crossings. The National Guard and DPS are conducting mass-migration rehearsals to implement flexible strategies to deter illegal crossings at any point along the border where they occur.”
Abbott has taken action the following action in what he says will secure the border:
Securing $4 billion in funding for Texas’ border security efforts
Launching Operation Lone Star and deploying thousands of National Guard soldiers and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers
Arresting and jailing illegal migrants trespassing or committing other state crimes in Texas
Allocating resources that include acquiring 1,700 unused steel panels to build the border wall in Texas
Signing a law to make it easier to prosecute smugglers bringing people into Texas
Signing 15 laws cracking down on human trafficking in Texas
Signing a law enhancing penalties for the manufacturing and distribution of fentanyl
Issuing a disaster declaration for the border crisis
Issuing an executive order preventing non-governmental entities from transporting illegal immigrants
Taking legal action to enforce the Remain in Mexico policy
Taking aggressive action to secure the border as President Biden seeks to end Title 42 expulsions, including busing migrants to Washington, D.C.
Signing memoranda of understanding between the State of Texas and the States of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas to enhance border security measures that will prevent illegal immigration from Mexico to Texas
Activating the Joint Border Security Operations Center (JBSOC) and directing the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Military Department, and Texas Division of Emergency Management to coordinate Texas’ response to secure the border