Texas Official Wants to Give Trump Even More Land to…

Texas Official Wants to Give Trump Even More Land to Help With Mass Deportations: 'I Have 13 Million Acres'

Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham proposes offering more land near the border for deportation facilities, expanding a plan that includes 1,400 acres for the initiative. (Credit: THOMAS WATKINS/AFP via Getty Images)

After offering over 1,400 acres of land for "deportation facilities," Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham now suggests that additional land along the state's border could also be offered up to assist with the incoming Trump administration's mass deportation plans.

"We have 13 million acres, and if any of them can be of help in this process, we're happy to have that discussion," Buckingham told ABC News. The 1,402-acre plot was purchased in October as part of Texas' broader border security efforts, which also include the construction of a border wall.

Buckingham's offer highlights the state's commitment to supporting federal efforts in handling deportations, specifically by creating processing and detention centers for migrants. In a letter to President-elect Donald Trump, Buckingham expressed her office's readiness to collaborate with federal agencies such as ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to facilitate deportations.

She also referenced reports from local communities about rising crime allegedly linked to migrants in the region, which she attributed to what she called the Biden administration's "open border policies." Buckingham suggested that the county's shift to a Republican vote was partly due to concerns over border security and safety.

However, some local residents and leaders disputed Buckingham's claims, describing the community as safe and free from the violent crime she referenced, the outlet reported. Buckingham responded by emphasizing that many migrants who cross the border eventually carry violent behavior to other states, echoing rhetoric often used by Trump during his campaign.

The offer of additional land follows the Biden administration's approval in 2023 of 20 miles of border wall construction, a decision that contradicted Biden's 2020 campaign promise. Buckingham expressed confidence that the incoming Trump administration will take up her offer. "We have heard through back channels that they're aware of our letter and they are definitely looking at it," she said.

Tom Homan, the incoming "border czar," confirmed the administration would be open to using the land for deportation facilities, highlighting the need for such spaces during mass deportation operations. However, Democratic governors of border states, including Arizona's Katie Hobbs, have indicated they will not support the plans.

For instance, Democratic Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs said she is open to working with President-elect Donald Trump's administration on border security, particularly in combating fentanyl trafficking, but warned: she will not support actions that harm families such as mass deportation.

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