Texas is considering a significant shift in its approach to handling migrants, potentially implementing a plan to transport them directly to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for expedited processing and deportation. This initiative, as reported by the New York Post, would mark a departure from the state’s current strategy under Operation Lone Star, which has involved busing thousands of migrants to sanctuary cities. However, this new plan has yet to receive approval from Governor Greg Abbott.
A Texas government source emphasized the state’s commitment to border security, stating, “We are always going to be involved in border security so long as we’re a border state.” The source further noted the substantial taxpayer investment in deterrent measures at the border, underscoring the necessity of continued vigilance.
Governor Abbott has taken a strong stance against illegal immigration, utilizing the busing of migrants to blue cities to draw attention to the ongoing border crisis. Under the proposed plan, Texas would charter buses from border cities to federal detention centers, facilitating quicker processing by ICE agents.
The state has been embroiled in legal battles with the Biden administration over its immigration policies. Recently, an appeals court ruled in favor of Texas, granting the state the right to construct a razor wire border wall to deter illegal crossings.
In a proactive move, Texas officials have also offered land to the incoming Trump administration for the establishment of deportation centers aimed at housing illegal immigrant criminals. Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham stated, “My office has identified several of our properties and is standing by ready to make this happen on Day One of the Trump presidency.”
The situation at the border remains dire, with authorities reporting an alarming number of unaccompanied migrant children. On Thursday, a 10-year-old boy from El Salvador was found lost and abandoned by a human smuggler, holding a cellphone and crying, while expressing that his parents were in the U.S. Similarly, a 2-year-old girl from El Salvador was discovered with a piece of paper containing her name and a phone number, indicating her parents were also in the U.S.
On the same day, state troopers encountered a group of 211 illegal immigrants in Maverick County, which included 60 unaccompanied children aged 2 to 17, as well as six individuals from Mali and Angola.
Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Chris Olivarez voiced his concerns, stating, “Regardless of political views, it is unacceptable for any child to be exposed to dangerous criminal trafficking networks.” He further highlighted the gravity of the situation, noting, “With a record number of unaccompanied children and hundreds of thousands missing, there is no one ensuring the safety & security of these children except for the men & women who are on the frontlines daily.” Olivarez concluded with a stark reminder of the risks involved, asserting, “The reality is that many children are exploited & trafficked, never to be heard from again.”
