"With the end of Title 42 expulsions looming next month, Texas will immediately begin taking unprecedented action to do what no state has done in American history to secure our border. "
– Governor Greg Abbott
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott has announced the first in a series of aggressive actions by the State of Texas to secure the border in the wake of President Biden's decision to end Title 42 expulsions. The Governor made the announcement at a press conference in Weslaco, where he was joined by Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Steve McCraw, Adjutant General of Texas Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer, and Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Chief Nim Kidd.
"With the end of Title 42 expulsions looming next month, Texas will immediately begin taking unprecedented action to do what no state has done in American history to secure our border," said Governor Abbott.
"The Biden Administration's open-border policies have paved the way for dangerous cartels and deadly drugs to pour into the United States, and this crisis will only be made worse by ending Title 42 expulsions."The new strategies announced today and next week will further strengthen our already robust response to the Biden border disaster, and we will use any and all lawful powers to curtail the flow of drugs, human traffickers, illegal immigrants, weapons, and other contraband into Texas," said Abbott.
During his remarks, Abbott noted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is projecting as many as 18,000 migrant apprehensions per day upon the end of Title 42 expulsions. This prediction would indicate over 500,000 illegal border crossings per month.
Because DHS has no plan for addressing the anticipated surge of illegal immigrants when Title 42 expulsions end, and because DHS is expected to release large groups of migrants into Texas communities, Governor Abbott has directed TDEM to charter buses and flights to transport migrants who have been processed and released from federal custody to Washington, D.C.
To board a bus or flight, a migrant must volunteer to be transported and show documentation from DHS.
Mayors and county judges can notify TDEM of any DHS-facilitated drop-off of migrants in their communities so that the agency can provide appropriate transportation.
To board a bus or flight, a migrant must volunteer to be transported and show documentation from DHS.
Mayors and county judges can notify TDEM of any DHS-facilitated drop-off of migrants in their communities so that the agency can provide appropriate transportation.
Abbott has also directed DPS to conduct enhanced safety inspections of vehicles as they cross International Ports of Entry into Texas. This directive, which is effective immediately, anticipates a significant rise in Cartel-Facilitated Smuggling via unsafe vehicles upon the end of Title 42 expulsions.
Gov. Abbott announced additional strategies being deployed immediately to secure the border. DPS and the Texas Military Department (TMD) are:
- Deploying razor-wire at low-water crossings & high-traffic areas,
- Installing container blockades to stem the flow of illegal crossings, and
- Preparing additional Boat Blockades.
- Additionally, TMD will begin the first phase of mass-migration rehearsals this week, and
- All DPS Troopers & Specially Trained Texas National Guard Soldiers will be given Riot Gear in case of violence among caravans & migrants.
