Governor Greg Abbott held a press conference following a briefing to provide an update on the State of Texas’ ongoing response to the growing border crisis on June 29 in Eagle Pass. The Governor was joined by Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw and Adjutant General of Texas Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer.
This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics taken up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the discussions but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.
Governor Greg Abbott
- Discusses the 53 people who lost their lives in an 18-wheeler in San Antonio; deadliest migrant smuggling incident on U.S. soil
- Truck was not inspected at the border due to lack of border patrol resources
- This and other tragedies from those crossing the border is on the Federal Government
- Federal Government needs to fully fund border patrol operation and implement the policy to secure the border/inspect vehicles
- Need minimum amount of border patrol agents to be able to inspect vehicles
- Texas is going to add additional truck checkpoints; DPS will create and implement a checkpoint strategy immediately
- Eagle Pass in Del Rio has seen the largest number of illegal crossings within the last week
- Could be a meaningful rise in border crossings in this region; will step up to address this
- State will provide more resources and stronger strategies to control all border land owned by state and local government
- Texas does not have the authority to stop illegal immigrants on federal land
- Are getting authorization with private property to put up barriers
- DPS is creating two strike teams to detect, deter and apprehend that will be deployed in Eagle Pass
- 20 trooper teams; additional strike teams will be deployed as needed
- National Guard deploying additional miles of wire along the river; and fencing on state/local land
- Adding boat teams along the river; have turned back 22k along the river
Director Steve McCraw, DPS
- Will have two new strike teams in this area and new truck checkpoints in order to identify smugglers; are now using clone trucks and vehicles
- Since launch of operation Lone Star have apprehended 983 smuggled people
- Will have strike teams to focus on stash houses and brush strike teams
- Increased UAVs to support surveillance activities
Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer, Texas National Guard
- National 60 miles of barrier along the border in fencing and wire
- In Maverick County secured agreements with 55 miles of border landowners to put up barriers
- Expanding to get more land agreements to get more wire spread out
- Are increasing boat teams
- Implemented drone program and will take a couple months to come online; will help with narcotics and other illicit activities
Governor Greg Abbott
- Asks President Biden to adopt the border security plan under former president Trump
- Includes: building a wall, enforcing Title 42/Remain in Mexico, ending catch and release, and the President needs to be adamant he will not tolerate any illegal immigration
Q&A
Q: Increase in incarcerations?
- Abbott – Made more than 16k criminal charges, 4k criminal trespass, 14k felony charges, apprehended 270k, and 22k turned back
- Abbott – Have apprehended enough Fentanyl to kill every man, women, and child in the U.S
Q: Plan with Mexican leaders previously? Holding them accountable?
- Abbott – Have been discussion with bordering neighbors/governors of Mexico; President of Mexico is aiding the effort in the increase in illegal immigrants
Q: Asks about a Sheriff deporting apprehended illegal immigrants?
- Abbott – Sheriffs in Texas play a vital role on the border; have to respond in unprecedented ways
Q: Supreme Court decision concerning Remain in Mexico policy?
- Abbott – Decision will come out tomorrow, hope they will uphold the Remain in Mexico policy
Q: Razor wire effective?
- Abbott – Have to look at overall numbers of fentanyl sized, arrests, turnbacks, etc.
- Doing more than any other state ever; Texas is the only state to build its own border wall
Q: Where are the resources? Are not officers in many places
- Abbott – Deploying them to strategic areas
Q: Message for the families for those who passed in the 18-wheeler?
- Abbott – Prayers are with the families; Texas stepping up to ensure that will not happen again
- Will not talk publicly about our plans in order to surprise the cartel and other smugglers
Q: Asks about inspection checkpoint
- McCraw – Will target certain areas with commercial vehicle strike teams
Q: Troopers and officers are overwhelmed here; speak on that
- Abbott – Are 2k short on border patrol staff; Congress and President should provide at minimum the funding for the previous floor amount of border patrol agents