State Capitol HIGHLIGHTS

Submitted by Canton1 on
By Ed Sterling TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION

Governor takes action to stem illegal border crossings

Quoting U.S. Border Patrol data regarding illegal border crossings, Gov. Greg Abbott on Dec. 15 said the number of apprehensions through October and November "are on average two to three times higher than last year.”

Abbott added that in the Big Bend sector, unaccompanied minor arrivals for that period has increased almost tenfold. In the Rio Grande sector, it doubled from 3,219 to 6,465.

“Texas will not sit idle in the face of this challenge,” Abbott said. “We will not be victimized as a state by a federal government’s apathetic response to border security.”

To respond to the problem, Abbott said he plans to:

 • Extend the deployment of National Guard troops at strategic locations on the border; 

 • Instruct the Texas Department of Public Safety to coordinate with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department to increase the number of boats and tactical officers at strategic locations on the Rio Grande River; 

 • Instruct the DPS to increase aerial observation missions to aid interdiction efforts; 

 • Award grants to support the Border Prosecution Unit; • Provide grants to Ellis and Rockwall counties to aid their efforts to respond to the unexpected relocation of unaccompanied minors to their counties. 

 • Urge the U.S. Department of Homeland Security once again to increase border patrol agents in Texas.

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