Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has offered to provide 4,000 prison cells across the state to house illegal aliens arrested under newly implemented ICE operations.
During a meeting with Trump at the White House on Wednesday, Abbott spoke about Texas’ continued efforts to secure the border and fight illegal immigration. The discussion then revolved around a variety of new plans for the Lone Star State, including efforts to support the President’s ICE enforcement strategies.
In addition to offering 4,000 prison cells, Abbott also discussed plans for expanding Texas’ border wall, according to a report from Fox 4 KDFW.
The governor also discussed his recent request for more than $11 billion in federal reimbursement for the state’s border security efforts. Abbott said the funds would go toward ongoing operations, including the use of state resources, such as the National Guard and state troopers, in support of federal immigration laws.
The Texas governor confirmed earlier this week that the state’s National Guard troops would now be authorized to detain people in the country illegally under certain conditions.
“We have a President who will PARTNER with Texas to deny illegal entry. To support that mission, I ordered Texas state agencies to assist the Trump Administration with arresting, jailing, and deporting illegal immigrants,” Abbott posted to X on Sunday.
“Texas cities and counties must cooperate,” he added.
At a press conference following his meeting with the President, Abbott claimed that under Trump’s leadership, illegal border crossings have seen a “total evaporation,” Fox 4 reported.