Abbott announces new security measures for Texas ahead of Title 42 elimination
TEXAS – Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the first of a series of aggressive actions the state will take to secure the border with Mexico following President Biden’s decision to end Title 42 removals, including the rental of transportation for migrant relocation.
At a press conference from Weslaco and accompanied by Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Steve McCraw; Texas Adjutant General Major General Thomas Suelzer; and Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Chief Nim Kidd, Abbott announced some of the actions that will be implemented.
“The Biden administration’s open borders policies have paved the way for dangerous cartels and drugs to enter the United States, and this crisis will only get worse if Title 42 removals are ended,” the governor said.
Abbott, pointed out that with the end of Title 42 beginning next month, Texas will immediately begin taking unprecedented steps to secure the border.
“The new strategies will further strengthen our already robust response to Biden’s border disaster, and we will use any and all legal powers to stem the flow of drugs, human traffickers, illegal immigrants, weapons and other contraband into Texas,” he added.
During his remarks, the governor noted that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) projects as many as 18,000 immigrant apprehensions per day when Title 42 removals end. This prediction would indicate more than half a million illegal border crossings per month.
Because of this situation, Abbott ordered TDEM to charter buses and flights to transport migrants who have been processed and released from federal custody to Washington, D.C.
To board a bus or flight, a migrant must volunteer to be transported and show DHS documentation. County mayors and county judges can notify TDEM of any migrant drops in their communities so that the agency can provide appropriate transportation.
DPS has also been directed to conduct enhanced security inspections of vehicles when crossing international ports of entry into Texas.
In addition, DPS and the Texas Military Department (TMD) are preparing additional boat blockades, deploying barbed wire at low-water crossings and high-traffic areas, and installing containers to stem the flow of illegal crossings.
In addition, the TMD will begin the first phase of mass migration rehearsals this week, and all DPS police officers and specially trained Texas National Guard soldiers will receive riot gear in the event of violence between caravans and migrants.
Source: MEXICONOW Staff