Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker Dade Phelan, Senate Finance Committee Chair Joan Huffman and House Appropriations Committee Chair Dr. Greg Bonnen today approved the transfer of $495.3 million to continue funding Operation Lone Star and critical border operations at other state agencies. . Of these funds, $465.3 million will support the deployment of the Texas National Guard. This funding will address immediate border security needs while future funding needed to protect Texans continues to be assessed.
“Texas will not sit on the sidelines as President Biden continues to turn a blind eye to the crisis on our southern border,” Governor Abbott said. “The safety and security of Texans is our top priority, and we will continue to fight to keep our communities safe. This additional funding ensures the Lone Star State is fully equipped to provide Texans with the border security strategy that they demand and deserve.”
“As the border crisis continues and the Biden administration considers repealing Title 42, millions of people are entering our country,” Lt. Governor Patrick said. “Their failure to secure the southern border means Texas has to use our tax dollars to get in the breach.”
“The Biden administration’s approach to our southern border is simply irresponsible,” President Phelan said. To do.”
“Over the past year, more than one million immigrants have crossed our southern border illegally,” said Senator Huffman, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. “Among these were over 14,000 criminal arrests and thousands of pounds of illegal drugs seized. Having spent my entire career fighting to keep the public safe, I believe this funding is needed to continue the efforts of the state to support Operation Lone Star to combat criminal activity, human trafficking and gang violence.”
“The current crisis on our southern border calls for unprecedented action by the Legislative Assembly,” said Dr. Bonnen, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. “This funding will provide agencies participating in Operation Lone Star with the resources necessary to successfully continue the states’ commitment to combat the flow of illegal immigrants into Texas. I applaud President Phelan, Governor Abbott, and all of our agencies in their continued commitment to securing the Texas border.”
Read the joint endorsement letter from the governor and state leaders.
Governor Abbott took significant steps to secure the border in the wake of federal government inaction. These actions include:
- Secured $4 Billion in Funding for Texas Border Security Efforts
- Launch of Operation Lone Star and deployment of thousands of National Guard troops and soldiers from the Texas Department of Public Safety
- Arrest and Jail Illegal Migrants Who Trespass or Commit Other State Crimes in Texas
- Resource allocation including the acquisition of 1,700 unused steel panels to construct the border wall in Texas
- Sign legislation to make it easier to prosecute human smugglers who bring people to Texas
- Signing of 15 laws cracking down on human trafficking in Texas
- Signing of a law strengthening the penalties for the manufacture and distribution of fentanyl
- Issuance of a disaster declaration for the border crisis
- Enact an executive order preventing non-governmental entities from transporting illegal immigrants
- Take legal action to enforce the Stay in Mexico policy
- Take aggressive action to secure the border as President Biden ends Title 42 deportations, including busing migrants to Washington, D.C.
- Signing of Memoranda of Understanding between the State of Texas and the States of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas to strengthen border security measures that will prevent illegal immigration from Mexico to Texas
Learn more about additional steps taken by the governor to secure the border through Operation Lone Star.
