Texas Offers Border Land to Trump Administration for Deportation Operations “`

Texas is offering President-elect Trump a tract of land near the U.S.-Mexico border in Starr County for use as a processing center.

The state acquired this Rio Grande Valley property last month. Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham formally offered the land to Trump in a letter sent Thursday.

This offer highlights the conflicting stances of state and local governments regarding President-elect Trump’s mass deportation plans. The Los Angeles City Council recently voted to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities on deportations.

Texas has consistently supported aggressive border security measures, including razor wire barriers and a law enabling law enforcement to detain individuals crossing the border illegally.

“By offering this 1400-acre property to the incoming Trump Administration for a facility to process and detain those slated for what will be the largest deportation of violent criminals in our nation’s history, I stand with President Donald Trump to protect American families,” Commissioner Buckingham stated.

President-elect Trump intends to initiate mass deportations on his first day in office. During his campaign, he frequently linked illegal immigration to various problems, including drug trafficking and high housing costs.

An estimated 11 million people are in the U.S. illegally. Details on identifying and detaining these individuals remain unclear.

Trump’s transition team hasn’t publicly responded to Texas’ offer, but issued a statement.

“On day one, President Trump will utilize all available resources to secure the border, safeguard communities, and implement the largest mass deportation operation of illegal immigrant criminals in history,” said Karoline Leavitt, spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition team.

The Texas General Land Office did not disclose the land’s purchase price but noted that the previous owner opposed border wall construction.

A 1.5-mile section of border wall was constructed on this land in 2021 under Governor Greg Abbott. Commissioner Buckingham stated that the recent land acquisition has created another easement for future border wall expansion.