Wednesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said he will use $250 million in state money and crowdsourced financing to build more barriers along the U.S border with Mexico.
This is part of an emerging proposal, continuing his fight over immigration with the Biden administration. AP News reports that over a dozen Republican members of the Texas House and Senate have joined Abbott for a press conference where he announced his intentions to hire a project manager to continue constructing a wall along the border. Abbot also said he will be asking the federal government to return the land obtained for the U.S. government’s wall to its private citizens, allowing Texas to finish the job.
“In response to the federal government neglect of all of the people who live along the border, the people who are facing the consequences of the spread of drugs like fentanyl, Texas is stepping up and doing more than any other state ever has done to respond to these challenges along the border. Texas taxpayers are having to step up so we as a state can protect our citizens,” Abbott said.
The $250 million is being allocated for the project under emergency orders. In a letter released by the governor’s office, the money was said to be coming from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s budget. In addition to this allocation, the state has also set up a webpage and post office box for donations. Abbott is up for reelection this next year and has not ruled out a potential presidential run in 2024, likely contributing to his increased action over immigration since Biden took office.
This has included sending state police and national guardsmen to the border to arrest those entering the country illegally and those participating in any illicit drug activity. Though large numbers of migrants have been showing up at the southern border over the years, the numbers of families and children traveling without parents crossing the border has dropping significantly since March and April. Governor Abbott reported that arrests have increased at the border, and that jails are looking for additional space to house this rising number.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced he would send additional law enforcement from his state to Texas and Arizona to aid in resolving the crisis at the U.S. border with Mexico. When Biden took office, he suspended Trump’s “Build the Wall” project, which was much stronger than simply replacing barriers. The Biden administration has recently announced that they will be diverting funding away from this project, as well as suspending all construction.
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ARTICLE: JILLIAN WEIDNER
MANAGING EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE
PHOTO CREDITS: THE EAGLE
