Congress asked to reimburse Texas $11B for border security costs
Share this @internewscast.com

McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, announced Thursday he is asking Congress to reimburse Texas $11.1 billion for border security costs.

On a call with reporters Thursday, Cornyn called it “a dramatic and historic effort to get reimbursement for the State of Texas for Operation Lone Star.”

He said the legislation will be part of the reconciliation budget package for Fiscal Year 2026 that is currently being debated in Congress.

He blamed the Biden administration and said Texas incurred these costs because it was necessary to secure the border under the previous administration.

“President Biden’s border policies, his open border policies, have been a disaster for the country and for Texas in particular. And Texas did what it could, using the resources that it could to fill the gap, while the federal government, whose responsibility it is to secure the border, did virtually nothing,” Cornyn said.

Gov. Greg Abbott in 2021 created Operation Lone Star, which has deployed thousands of National Guard soldiers to the Texas-Mexico border, built miles of border wall and dispatched state troopers along border highways as part of a state-funded border security initiative.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott greets National Guardsmen and women ahead of the press conference he and fellow Governors organized along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, Texas. (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

The state has spent over $11 billion to date, and taken in over $56.2 million in donations for border transportation, border wall construction and border security, according to the governor’s office.

However, since President Donald Trump took office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports a drop of over 90% in border encounter numbers of those trying to illegally cross into the United States.

CBP on Monday reported that during April, encounters on the Southwest border totaled 8,383, down from 128,895 in April 2024.

(CBP Graphic)

“Now that the border is in much better shape, it’s no longer necessary for Texas and Texas taxpayers to shoulder that burden alone, and so now it’s rightly returned to the federal government, through the Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Justice to provide that security. So Texas and Texas taxpayers no longer have to bear that burden by themselves,” he said.

Cornyn says the measure will be included in the House bill, which could be voted on as early as next week.

Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Wesley Chapel Family Claims Dog Survived Backyard Alligator Encounter

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A family in Wesley Chapel is traumatized after…

Latest Update: Man Collapses on Delta Flight from Savannah Due to Lack of Air Conditioning

SAVANNAH, Ga. () – A Delta Airlines flight departing from Savannah/Hilton Head…

118 Charges Brought Against Suspect in Boulder Incident

DENVER (KDVR) – The suspect involved in the Boulder, Colorado, terror attack…

Famed Millikin University Graduate Set for Induction into Black College Football Hall of Fame

DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — A distinguished former student of Millikin University will…

Immigration Officials Increase Operations in Los Angeles Area During Street Protests

LOS ANGELES (AP) U.S. immigration authorities extended activity in Los Angeles area…

James Carville Clarifies His Statements About Jewish Political Donors

() James Carville is taking heat for suggesting some Jewish campaign donors…

Champaign Farmers Market Makes a Comeback at Its Original Location

The warmer weather signals the start of various summer activities, including the…

Elon Musk Considers Launching ‘The American Party’ Following Disagreement with Trump

(The Hill) — Elon Musk floated a new political party on Friday…

Kilmar Abrego Garcia Returns to the U.S., Faces Human Smuggling Charges While Lawyers Pledge Continued Legal Battle

The Trump administration describes Kilmar Abrego Garcia as a key figure in…

Federal Agents Raid Location in California, Prompting Swift Protest

Video above: Live feed of the scene of ICE activity in Paramount.…

As hurricane season progresses, Gulf Coast residents are concerned about FEMA and the Weather Service’s preparedness.

(The Hill)  With hurricane season officially underway, worries are mounting around whether…

Alan Dershowitz: Are We Choosing the Wrong Role Models?

() In recent months, the Trump administration has gone up against Harvard University…