Texas Gov. Abbott asks government to reimburse $11B spent on border security

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is seeking reimbursement from the federal government for over $11.1 billion that the state of Texas has spent on securing the southern border during the previous administration of President Joe Biden. In letters sent to U.S. Congressional members, Abbott criticized the Biden administration for failing to address the crisis at the border, which has had repercussions throughout the entire country.

Abbott highlighted the impact of President Biden’s policies, stating that they left Texas and the rest of America vulnerable to an influx of violent criminals, known terrorists, and hostile foreign actors like the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. To combat this, Abbott initiated Operation Lone Star in March 2021, deploying the Texas National Guard and Texas Department of Public Safety to the US-Mexico border.

Operation Lone Star has been successful in reducing illegal immigration into Texas by 87% over the past four years, showcasing the effectiveness of former President Donald Trump’s border measures. Abbott emphasized that the operation has led to the apprehension of over half a million illegal immigrants, thwarted more than 140,000 illegal attempts to enter the US, made over 50,000 criminal arrests, seized more than half a billion lethal doses of fentanyl, constructed over 240 miles of border barriers, and established the sole National Guard base along the Texas-Mexico border.

Despite the success of Operation Lone Star, Abbott expressed concern over the substantial cost of over $11.1 billion, which has been borne by Texas taxpayers. He argued that this financial burden should have been the responsibility of the federal government. Prior to the Biden administration, Texas spent approximately $800 million every two years to supplement federal efforts at the border.

Abbott stressed that Texas stepped up where the federal government failed to act, safeguarding all Americans from the repercussions of President Biden’s policies. House Republicans have previously introduced bills to reimburse Texas for the border security expenses, but no legislation has been passed thus far.

The governor’s efforts to secure the southern border have highlighted the importance of border security and the need for federal support. As Texas continues to bear the financial burden of border security, Abbott is advocating for reimbursement from the federal government to offset the costs incurred by the state in protecting the nation’s borders.