Texas plans to bus migrants directly to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation facilities, signaling a renewed push for stricter immigration enforcement.
According to a Texas source cited by the New York Post, Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) intends to restart the busing program, which previously sent tens of thousands of migrants to Democrat-led sanctuary cities, straining their resources. While the initiative paused due to lawsuits and a drop in border crossings, the state now aims to resume it under the incoming Trump administration, redirecting migrants to ICE detention centers for deportation.
“We invested significant taxpayer funds to establish deterrence at the border, and we can’t abandon that,” the source explained. They added, “This approach allows us to remain involved, and ICE would reimburse us for the busing costs.”
Tom Homan, the incoming Border Tsar, expressed interest in the proposal, noting that while the idea hadn’t been discussed during his recent border visit, he welcomed the opportunity to collaborate. “We’re going to help Texas secure the border and work in partnership. Governor Abbott won’t have to worry about this administration suing him for protecting the Texas border,” Homan stated.
For four years, Texas has clashed with the Biden administration over immigration policies, favoring more aggressive measures compared to the federal government’s approach. This tension escalated in January when Texas defied the Supreme Court’s decision siding with the Biden administration over the removal of razor wire along the border.
On Wednesday, Texas secured a legal win as the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Biden administration acted improperly by cutting the border razor wire.
From summer 2022, Texas bused around 120,000 migrants to cities including New York, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The state now looks forward to aligning its efforts with President-elect Donald Trump’s strict immigration policies, reflecting its ongoing push for enhanced border security.
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