McALLEN, Texas, USA (AP) — Texas has made rural land along the border with Mexico available to the federal government to use as a staging area for possible mass deportations planned during the administration of the virtual president-elect Donald Trump.
The property, which Texas purchased last month, is located in a rural area of Starr County in the Rio Grande Valley. Dawn Buckingham, Texas Land Commissioner, sent a letter to Trump on Nov. 14 laying out the offer.
“We know through unofficial channels that they are analyzing it and taking it into account. But we just want you to know that we are a good partner. We are here. We want to help,” Buckingham told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday.
The property has no paved roads and is located in a county with only one public hospital and limited local resources. However, Buckingham emphasized its location.
“We think it is very well located. The terrain is very flat there. It is close to important airports. Also next to a bridge that crosses the river,” Buckingham said. “So if it helps, I would love to partner with the federal government. And if it is not, we will continue to look for ways to help them.”
The land offer is the latest example of a stark divide between states and local governments over whether to support or fight Trump’s plans to carry out mass deportations of migrants living in the United States illegally. On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council voted to become a “sanctuary” jurisdiction, a decision that limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities to carry out deportations.
Texas has long favored aggressive border measures to curb crossings, including installing razor wire and passing a law last year that would allow law enforcement to arrest migrants crossing the border. border illegally.
“By offering this newly acquired 1,400-acre (566-hectare) property to the incoming Trump administration for the construction of a facility for the processing, detention and coordination of what will be the largest deportation of violent criminals in our nation’s history, I one (to the efforts) of President Donald Trump to ensure that American families are protected,” Buckingham said in a statement.
Trump has said he plans to begin his deportation efforts on the first day of his presidency. He frequently attacked illegal immigration during his campaign, linking a record increase in unauthorized border crossings to problems ranging from drug trafficking to high housing prices.
It is estimated that there are 11 million people who are in the country without authorization. Questions still remain about how people would be identified and where they would be detained.
Trump’s transition team did not say whether it would accept Texas’ offer, but sent a statement.
“From day one, President Trump will mobilize every tool at his disposal to secure the border, protect his communities and launch the largest deportation operation of criminal illegal immigrants in history,” team spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday. transition.
The Texas General Land Office did not disclose the amount paid for the land, but the commissioner stated that the previous owner opposed the construction of a border wall.
Governor Greg Abbott ordered the construction of a 2.4 kilometer (1.5 mile) stretch of border wall on that land in 2021. Buckingham said that with the recent purchase, the state has created a new possibility to expand construction of the border wall.
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This story was translated from English by an AP editor with the help of a generative artificial intelligence tool.
What are the historical precedents for state-level immigration enforcement in Texas, and how might they influence the current approach to mass deportations?
1. How does Texas’ decision to offer rural land for possible mass deportations fit into their broader approach to immigration enforcement?
2. What are the potential advantages and disadvantages of using this rural area as a staging area for mass deportations?
3. How has the idea of mass deportations been received by the local communities in Texas, particularly those near the proposed staging area?
4. What role does the Trump administration play in determining whether or not the land will be used for deportations, and what assurances can the Texas government provide to ensure their support?
5. What measures is Texas taking to ensure that individuals who may be targeted for deportation have access to due process and legal representation?
6. In light of the recent Los Angeles Sanctuary City resolution and the ongoing national debate about immigration policy, how do you think this decision will impact Texas’ relationship with other states?
7. What other ways is Texas considering to support the Trump administration’s efforts to secure the border and address illegal immigration?
8. Do you think Texas’ approach to immigration enforcement aligns with the values and priorities of the majority of the state’s residents? If not, what are some of the challenges to enacting more progressive immigration policies at the local level?
