Gov. Abbott Issues Disaster Declaration At Southern Texas Border Due To 'Influx Of Unlawful Immigrants'
AUSTIN, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration along Texas' southern border on Tuesday, June 1, "in response to the border crisis, providing more resources and strategies to combat the ongoing influx of unlawful immigrants."
Gov.Abbott is authorizing the use of "all necessary and available state and local resources to protect landowners in these counties from trespassers and the damage they cause to private property," the Governor's Office said in a news release.
It went on to say, the Governor has directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to enforce all federal and state criminal laws, including criminal trespassing, smuggling, and human trafficking and directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to take all necessary steps to discontinue state licensure of any child care facility under a contract with the federal government that shelters or detains unlawful immigrants.
"President Biden's open-border policies have paved the way for dangerous gangs and cartels, human traffickers, and deadly drugs like fentanyl to pour into our communities," said Governor Abbott. "Meanwhile, landowners along the border are seeing their property damaged and vandalized on a daily basis while the Biden Administration does nothing to protect them. Texas continues to step up to confront the border crisis in the federal government's absence, but more must be done. By declaring a state of disaster in these counties, Texas will have more resources and strategies at our disposal to protect landowners and enforce all federal and state laws to combat criminal activities stemming from the border crisis. Working together with local law enforcement, the state will continue to take robust and meaningful action to keep our communities safe."
The Governor also directed the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement to work with Texas counties to provide appropriate guidance and request any necessary waivers in order to give counties the flexibility needed to establish adequate alternative detention facilities or otherwise add or expand capacity.