McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday ordered agencies in the Lone Star State to assist federal immigration officers and federal border security efforts.
Abbott signed five other executive orders on Wednesday all relating to border security and all involve Texas agencies partnering with the Trump administration.
Abbott’s executive orders issued Wednesday include:
- State agencies must assist federal immigration officers who are “carrying out functions under federal immigration laws,” according to the order.
- The Texas Military must come up with an operational plan to cooperate with the U.S. armed forces “to regain and maintain operational control of the southern border,” according to the order.
- State agencies must help with border barriers by deploying “physical infrastructure to improve operational security at the southern border,” according to the order.
- State agencies must share intelligence on foreign terrorist organizations, like Mexican drug cartels and Tren de Aragua “with federal law enforcement personnel working under the Trump Administration,” according to the order.
- State agencies must identify “additional detention space” for federal officials, according to the order.
Abbott says that the last order is directed at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and the Texas Facilities Commission to earmark land and facilities that can be used for detention and deportation of immigrants who are believed to be in the United States illegally.
The Texas General Land Office has already gifted the Trump administration a 1,400-acre ranch in Starr County for use to build detention and deportation facilities.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the GLO told Border Report that the Texas Facilities Commission currently is in the process of installing security cameras to monitor the property, lighting, and a motorized gate to allow law enforcement vehicles to patrol the entire property.
The state also built a 1.5 mile border wall on the edge of the property along the Rio Grande, which was completed earlier this month.
“As always, Commissioner (Dawn) Buckingham stands ready to assist the State of Texas and the Trump Administration in gaining complete operational control of our southern border,” a spokesperson told Border Report.
Abbott’s latest orders come as President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered that a Guantánamo Bay facility in Cuba be prepared to accept and house migrants deported from the United States.
Abbott said Texas is stepping up to help the federal government as it makes changes in immigration policy and to secure the border.
“Now we have a commander-in-chief in the White House who will do what is necessary to protect Americans. Today, I issued five executive orders directing Texas state agencies to partner with the Trump Administration to enforce the rule of law and help secure the homeland. Just like President Donald Trump and his administration, Texas will do what is necessary to keep our country safe,” Abbott said in a statement.
On Monday, Abbott deployed 400 additional Texas Army National Guard troops to the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas to coordinate and work with the military and U.S. Border Patrol agents.
The Texas Tactical Border Force conducted training exercises with U.S. Customs and Border Protection that involved Chinook and Blackhawk helicopters on Tuesday at Anzalduas Park in Mission, Texas.
(ICE Graphic)
On Wednesday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials made 1,016 arrests and filed 814 detainers against migrants, the agency said in a post on X on Wednesday.
Since Trump took office, there have been over 5,500 ICE arrests nationwide.
CBP on Wednesday posted on X photos showing giant military aircraft being loaded with shackled and handcuffed migrants on repatriation flights.
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.
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