‘If you cross into Texas illegally, you will regret it forever’: Gov. Abbott targets migrants with new border billboards

HOUSTON, Texas – If you’re traveling through Central Texas and Mexico soon, you may see one of the dozens of billboards Governor Greg Abbott has put up, targeting migrants who are illegally crossing the border into the United States.

The billboards, which will be placed in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico and along the Texas-Mexico border, relay a very unpleasant message, reading: “Many girls who try to migrate to Texas are kidnapped. For the sake of your family, stop,” “Your wife and daughter will pay for the trip with their bodies. Coyotes lie. Don’t put your family at risk,” “How much did you pay to have your daughter raped? Many girls are raped by the coyotes you hire.”

“Today, we’re here to talk about a new campaign to deter illegal immigration into Texas,” said Governor Abbott. “Yesterday, we began putting up dozens of billboards throughout Mexico and Central America. They give potential illegal immigrants thinking of leaving their home country – and those already on the way – a realistic picture of what will happen to them on their journey or if they illegally cross into Texas. These billboards tell the horror stories of human trafficking. They implore those people in Central America to consider the violent, horrific realities of what will happen to the women and children they bring with them. Through Operation Lone Star, we have done some incredible work to stop illegal border crossers. But this new effort is about stopping their journey from even beginning in the first place. Until President Donald Trump is back in the White House to secure our border once again, we will continue to take every step necessary to defend Texas.”

During a news conference on Thursday, Abbott said the billboards, which will be displayed in several languages, are set to highlight the dangerous and legal consequences migrants face as they attempt to illegally enter the country and as countless women and children are sexually assaulted by coyotes and smugglers.

Governor Abbott was joined at the press conference by ranchers Kimberly and Martin Wall, Texas Association Against Sexual Assault CEO Rose Luna, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Freeman Martin, Adjutant General of Texas Major General Thomas Suelzer, and Texas Border Czar Mike Banks.

“There is a largely unspoken sexual assault crisis impacting women and children migrating to the Texas border,” said Rose Luna. “Acknowledging this issue and its profound impact on survivors is not just crucial—it is our responsibility.”

“There have been several rape trees and lots of women who have been found beaten and raped in front of our house and left to die,” said Kimberly Wall. “It makes you terrified to go out of your own house and enjoy your own property. I know my husband has found three different rape trees and burned them down. You don’t know if you’ll be attacked by one of the men hiding in the brush. We all want a better life for everybody.”

During the press conference, Governor Abbott pointed to a burned-down rape tree—a spot where migrants are sexually assaulted and their undergarments are then hung on the tree as trophies by coyotes—and highlighted the horrific, dangerous journey migrants take to cross illegally into the United States.