Texas to Spend $2 Billion on Badly Needed Border Security Where Feds Fail

Washington, D.C. – The Texas Public Policy Foundation hailed the passage of a historic border security bill in the Texas Legislature this week which is now set to be signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott. The bill allocates $1.8 billion for border security, including funds for more than 700 miles of border wall between Texas and Mexico and for beefing up detention and court capacity for the thousands of illegal aliens flooding across the southwest border. 

 The legislation is another major welcome move by the State of Texas. It’s also unfortunate that Texas had to step up in the first place when it was the federal government that should have taken care of the border security issue according to Kevin Roberts, CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation.  

 “We are happy to see Governor Abbott and the Legislature rising to the occasion to uphold the rule of law amid the unprecedented crisis on our southwest border. However, we are unhappy that Texas taxpayers are having to fund this nearly $2 billion expenditure because the federal government has shirked its duty for so long,” Roberts said.  

 “Democrats and Republicans alike came together in Texas to make this bill a reality. They have recognized, rightly, that border security is not a partisan issue. Not that long ago it wasn’t a partisan issue in Washington either, but the current administration seems determined to ignore the crisis altogether while simultaneously making life as difficult as possible for those trying to find a solution. It’s the duty of the federal government to protect its citizens, especially those living on the border. When those citizens must pay more in taxes because their government won’t do its job, it’s a sad day indeed.”