On Wednesday, Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, announced a $250 million “down payment” for the continued creation of a border wall between Texas and the United States.
During Wedenesday’s press conference in Austin, Abbott said, “My belief, based upon conversations that I’ve already had, is a combination of state land as well as volunteer land will yield hundreds of miles to build a wall in the state of Texas.”
“The problems along the border are only getting worse due to President Biden’s inaction. Property is being destroyed, deadly drugs and illegal weapons are being smuggled into communities throughout the state, law enforcement is having to redirect their resources, and county judges and mayors are facing skyrocketing expenses. Texas is doing more than any state has ever done to protect the border, but it is clear that more is needed,” he continued.
Texas officials wrote a letter that revealed the state government’s plan for the operation to their Executive Director of the Department of Criminal Justice, Bryan Collier.
Government officials plan to raise funds through voluntary donations and taxpayer funds, which will then be moved to the Texas Facilities Commission, allocating the wall’s construction.
They wrote, “Though securing the international border and protecting the life and property of its citizens surrounding that border is the duty of the federal government, the current administration has shown time and time again an unwillingness to embrace this fundamental responsibility.”
“This funding is a down payment to begin design and construction of physical barriers on voluntarily donated private and public lands that border this state and Mexico,” they continued.
Part of the letter declared, “These threats to our citizens cannot remain unaddressed; if the federal government refuses to face them, the State will.”
On June 1, Abbott declared a disaster in 34 border counties as authorities are being overrun by “dangerous gangs and cartels and human traffickers.”