AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF News) – Governor Greg Abbott heard from the sheriffs of border communities during a briefing on border security in Austin on Saturday.
The sheriffs told Abbott that in order to tackle the issues that come with the ongoing surge of migrants and illegal crossings, they’re in need of more funding, manpower, jail space and judges.
“The volume of people who either are arrested or who need to be arrested is so large that we are all working with the Texas Jail Commission and the Commission on Law Enforcement so that we are going to be able to arrest more people and jail more people,” said Governor Abbott.
He agreed that when it comes to law enforcement, manpower is needed on the front and back end of the judicial system.
“It’s one thing to arrest somebody but you have to have judicial magistrates to go through the processing of that. Another concern raised by almost everybody is an increase in high speed chases in dangerous smuggling encounters,” said Abbott.
The Governor said he’s hoping to get approval during the special session for more funding to send to border communities. The session began Thursday, June 8th, and will last thirty days.
Border security has been a lighting rod issue here in Texas and on the national stage.
Abbott was joined by Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McGraw, Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd and Adjutant General of Texas Tracy Norris.
Governor Abbott has blamed the Biden Administration’s policies on the surge of migrants at the southern border.
He’s promised to build a wall along the Texas Mexico border and has even been accepting private donations as part of his plans to fund it.
Last month, Vice President Kamala Harris and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas visited El Paso. Republicans criticized the timing of Harris’ trip.
The Vice President visited Central American countries before heading to Texas to deal with what the administration said is the root cause of mass migration.
The administration has pledged $300 million to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador to deal with those issues.
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