BREAKING: Abbott Announces Big Down Payment On Border Wall For Texas As DeSantis Sends Reinforcements

Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott announced during a press conference on Wednesday that state officials are making a major down payment on a border wall that is going to be built for the state to help respond to Democrat President Joe Biden’s border crisis.

In a letter, Abbott directed Bryan Collier, Executive Director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, to “transfer $250 million in General Revenue to the Disaster Fund within the Trusteed Programs within the Office of the Governor” for “a down payment to begin design and construction of physical barriers on voluntarily donated private and public lands that border this state and Mexico.”

At a press conference, Abbott slammed the Biden administration, saying it had “abandoned its responsibilities to secure the border, and Texans are suffering as a result.”

“The problems along the border are only getting worse due to President Biden’s inaction,” Abbott said. “Property is being destroyed, deadly drugs and illegal weapons are being smuggled into communities throughout the state, law enforcement is having to redirect their resources, and county judges and mayors are facing skyrocketing expenses. Texas is doing more than any state has ever done to protect the border, but it is clear that more is needed. In the Biden administration’s absence, Texas is stepping up to get the job done by building the border wall. Through this comprehensive public safety effort, we will secure the border, slow the influx of unlawful immigrants, and restore order in our border communities.”

Abbott said that he expects that there will be “hundreds of miles” of new wall built in the state. The announcement comes as Biden’s border crisis continued to worsen last month as more illegal aliens were apprehended at the southern border than at any other point in the history of the Department of Homeland Security, which was created in 2002.

Abbott’s announcement came at roughly the same time that Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Wednesday that he is sending state and local law enforcement to Texas and Arizona as reinforcements to deal with Biden’s border crisis.

“The Biden Administration ended policies implemented by President Trump that were curbing illegal immigration, securing our border, and keeping Americans safe,” DeSantis said. “Governors Abbott (of Texas) and Ducey (of Arizona) recently sent out a call for help to every state in the nation, needing additional law enforcement manpower and other resources to aid with border security.”

“I’m proud to announce today that the state of Florida is answering the call,” DeSantis added. “Florida has your back.” 

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