Should US Taxpayers Repay Texas for Border Security Measures?
State has spent billions securing its border with Mexico since 2021
Texas has spent more than 11 billion dollars of state funds to secure its border with Mexico over the past four years - and is now asking US taxpayers for repayment - a request supported by Texas Senator John Cornyn.
"No state has had to bear the brunt of the Biden-Harris border crisis more than Texas. I will fight to include funds in Congress’ reconciliation bill to reimburse Texas for its efforts to secure the border as a result of the Biden admin's complete dereliction of duty." US Senator John Cornyn
The request for federal reimbursement for the billions Texas has spent on its "Operation Lone Star" border security measures comes from Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
“President Biden’s policies left Texas and the rest of America defenseless against an unprecedented infiltration of violent criminals, known terrorists, and other hostile foreign actors, like the dangerous Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. I launched Operation Lone Star (OLS) to combat these threats to all Americans. In total, Texas has spent over $11.1 billion to protect the nation and secure the border. Accordingly, I am formally requesting that the federal government reimburse Texas for these costs in full.” -Texas Governor Greg Abbott
The construction of over 100 miles of border wall and the deployment of buoys cost almost $3 billion. Installation and fortification of 200 miles of concertina wire and border fencing amounted to $58 million. The deployment of over 10,000 Texas National Guard soldiers and surging Texas Department of Public Safety troopers to the border region came at a price tag of almost $6 billion.
What has Operation Lone star accomplished?
"Under OLS, Texas law enforcement has apprehended over half a million illegal immigrants; repelled over 140,000 attempted illegal entries; made over 50,000 criminal arrests; seized over half a billion lethal doses of fentanyl—more than enough to kill every man, woman, and child in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada combined; built over 240 miles of border barriers; and constructed the only National Guard base along Texas’ southern border." - Texas Governor Greg Abbott
Meanwhile, Texas continues to spend billions more on its border security operations. Governor Abbott has asked the state legislature for another 2.9 billion dollars to continue "Operation Lone Star" for two more years.
And - just this week - Texas finished its "floating border wall" by installing the last segment of buoys in the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass - a known illegal crossing point between Mexico and the United States.
Should US taxpayers pay for Texas Border Security operations?
Share your opinion in the comments on this article!
Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
At the very least, I think the federal government could take the funding supporting the NGO activity that has financed much of this crisis, and use it to defray the costs Texas has incurred.