AUSTIN 性视界传媒 How Gov. Greg Abbott might spend $2.9 billion in proposed state border security funds depends largely on how President Donald Trump plans to address challenges at the U.S.-Mexico border, Abbott性视界传媒檚 office told Senate budget writers.
The Republican governor said he hopes to have more information in the coming weeks about Trump性视界传媒檚 plans, including whether the state can turn some expenses over to the federal government or be reimbursed for about $11 billion the state has spent on Operation Lone Star, the governor性视界传媒檚 4-year-old border security mission.
性视界传媒淚 don性视界传媒檛 have any clear-cut answers or timelines for you today,性视界传媒 Abbott性视界传媒檚 chief of staff, Robert Black, told members of the Senate Finance Committee in a budget hearing at the Texas Capitol. 性视界传媒淲e are less than three weeks into a new administration in Washington, D.C., and I think, if you just turn on your TV or social media channels, you can see there性视界传媒檚 a lot of activity by the administration regarding security in this country.性视界传媒
Next week, Black said, Abbott will travel to Washington to speak with congressional leaders about his reimbursement request. He has already spoken on the request with the Trump administration several times, as well as U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Texas Republicans in Congress, Black said.
Those talks have been 性视界传媒渧ery positive,性视界传媒 he said.
性视界传媒淚 would probably have better luck predicting the weather next month than predicting what Congress is actually going to do,性视界传媒 Black said to chuckles from committee members. 性视界传媒淏ut I can assure you that the governor is putting forth every effort possible to get those funds back to Texas regarding the border security efforts.性视界传媒
Abbott has become a national figure in the political fight over border security, blaming Democratic President Joe Biden for record-breaking numbers of illegal border crossings. Abbott instituted programs busing migrants to Democratic-run cities and ordered razor wire barriers erected along the Rio Grande, among other actions.
Since taking office Jan. 20, Trump has declared a state of emergency along the U.S.-Mexico border, suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and sent soldiers to border cities in Texas. Trump has also been a vocal supporter of Abbott性视界传媒檚 border initiatives, and state leaders expressed hope in this week性视界传媒檚 budget hearings that having an ally in the White House could mean more federal help for Texas.
It性视界传媒檚 time for Texas and Washington to cooperate over securing the border, Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, said during a Tuesday hearing on the budget for the Texas Department of Public Safety, which is seeking $1.2 billion for border-related expenses, including replacing 500 troopers who have been sent to the border.
性视界传媒淲e have to use this friend that we have in office, this friend of Texas, to put us in a position to succeed,性视界传媒 Creighton said. 性视界传媒淏ecause, at the end of the day, we may find ourselves alone again after four years.性视界传媒
With Trump as a potentially powerful partner, Abbott has ramped up action along the border, including having more migrant-deterring buoys placed in the Rio Grande and sending 400 National Guard soldiers to the border.
The governor will keep it up unless there性视界传媒檚 a reason to change course, Black told Senate budget writers.
性视界传媒淭exas remains an active participant and partner in those ongoing security efforts, and it is the governor性视界传媒檚 intent right now to maintain and continue our current border security posture while we continue working with the administration in partnership as they ramp up their border security efforts,性视界传媒 Black said.
Senate Finance Chair Joan Huffman, whose early budget draft has $6.5 billion earmarked for all state border security spending, suggested the state could save $200 million per month 性视界传媒 $1.1 billion per year 性视界传媒 by turning over command of the National Guard性视界传媒檚 border mission, and about 4,500 soldiers, to the federal government.
性视界传媒淚性视界传媒檓 supportive, I love what you do,性视界传媒 Huffman told Texas National Guard Maj. General Thomas M. Suelzer in a hearing. 性视界传媒淏ut moving forward, I would like to figure out a way to get the state off the hook for that much money and let you concentrate on some of your other functions.性视界传媒
The Texas Military Department is asking for $2.3 billion for border security for the next two years, similar to its current budget.
性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 too early to tell how the border will evolve, but I can tell you right now, under the leadership of the governor, we have our foot fully on the gas and we性视界传媒檙e not letting it up,性视界传媒 Suelzer said. 性视界传媒淲e性视界传媒檙e going to continue securing this border until he tells us otherwise, and that性视界传媒檚 not going to change.性视界传媒
Huffman said the state should proceed 性视界传媒減rudently性视界传媒 and prioritize worthwhile expenses 性视界传媒 such as taking the lead on cases in which undocumented immigrants have committed state offenses.
性视界传媒淭hose things are really good state support, I think, to help the feds in their mission, and we want to invest in their mission. I think we have a role in that,性视界传媒 Huffman said.
In this week性视界传媒檚 hearings, critics of Abbott性视界传媒檚 border policies said Operation Lone Star has funded inhumane efforts such as the razor wire barriers.
性视界传媒淭exans deserve policies and investments that focus on real harm but still reap the benefits migrants bring to our state,性视界传媒 Luis Figueroa, legislative policy director for the progressive think tank Every Texan, testified late Tuesday. 性视界传媒淢any Texans, no matter our legal status, have contributed to safe, prosperous communities for generations, and the federal government should recognize that reality with true immigration reforms.性视界传媒
Black said Abbott would be more than happy to shrink the size of Operation Lone Star if the state gets needed help from the federal government.
性视界传媒淭he governor would love for us to be back down to the [funding] levels we were in under President Bush and President Obama and even President Trump the first time,性视界传媒 Black said.
Huffman seemed skeptical about getting federal reimbursements in time to affect the budget, which must be approved before the Legislature adjourns June 2.
性视界传媒淵ou seem more optimistic than I am about getting the $11 billion back,性视界传媒 she said Thursday, drawing laughter from Black and committee members.
Black said he anticipated more clarity on the state性视界传媒檚 financial burden and promised to update senators if budgetary needs change as the Trump administration settles into its new border policies.
性视界传媒淚 think plans will come together soon,性视界传媒 Black said. 性视界传媒淭here性视界传媒檚 always hope.性视界传媒
