AUSTIN (KXAN) — NewsNation, an affiliate of Nexstar, spoke with Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham on Tuesday about Texas’ newest collaboration with the Trump administration on border control.
On Monday, President Trump agreed to a 30-day pause on his tariff threats against Mexico. This comes as Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she would reinforce the border with 10,000 members of Mexico’s National Guard.
“This is a huge win not just for Texas, but for our entire country because Mexico is a critical partner. All those people who came out of the gate criticizing President Trump for the threat of tariffs, it’s a negotiating tool,” Buckingham said.
Buckingham said Mexican troops are a welcome help to border efforts in Texas.
“There are a lot of ways they can come together, but I think this is a vital step in getting complete operational control of our border. That we need so much for the prosperity and safety of our communities,” Buckingham said.
In a visit to Fort Bliss on Monday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth pledged 100% of operational control of the border. Buckingham broke down what that meant for Texas.
“We, the General Land Office, surround El Paso with land. So we have all kinds of opportunities to partner with the federal government, should they need additional detention centers,” Buckingham said.
Buckingham said troops in Texas have now been trained to detain and arrest illegal immigrants.
“So now that we have everyone working together, we can work in concert. Sometimes there are certain things that Border Patrol has to do, and it takes them off the front line of the border, so now our [military department, Department of Public Safety, or local law enforcement] can step in,” Buckingham said.
In a previous interview, Buckingham said Texas planned to utilize any means necessary to boost its partnership with the federal government to curb the illegal immigration crisis. She previously said Texas’s General Land Office offered the Trump administration about 1,400 acres of land to help with mass deportations.
“I have 13 million acres across the state. So we have land almost everywhere. We’ve identified pieces that we think are more helpful out of the gate. But, of course, whatever it is they need,” Buckingham said.
Buckingham also stated she was willing to help the government acquire any property it needed for mass deportations if necessary.
“We’ll do whatever it takes. We’re here to be a good partner again, just getting these violent criminals who’ve been hurting our sons and daughters off of our soil,” Buckingham said.
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