Abbott Seeks $11 Billion Reimbursement From Trump For Border Security Costs

As first reported by The Dallas Morning News, Texas Governor Greg Abbott met with President Donald Trump on Wednesday, seeking $11 billion in reimbursement for the state’s border security efforts under Operation Lone Star. Abbott argued that Texas has shouldered a significant financial burden in securing the border and enforcing immigration laws.

A Wall Street Journal report suggests that areas targeted by Operation Lone Star have experienced an increase in illegal crossings, arguing that the policy has led to mass arrests unrelated to border security and raised concerns about its effectiveness and legality. Texas’ approach has also strained its relationship with the federal government, leading to lawsuits over controversial measures, as reported by ACLU, such as permitting local and state law enforcement to arrest, detain, and remove people they suspect to have entered Texas without federal authorization. Despite these challenges, Abbott remains committed to continuing his immigration enforcement strategy, asserting that Texas’ efforts benefit the entire country.

The WSJ also mentioned that data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection show that illegal crossings increased more rapidly in the counties most intensely targeted by Operation Lone Star after its launch and have been slower to decrease since reaching their peak in 2022. 

But despite all the strategy’s flaws, Abbott proposed transferring billions of dollars in Texas-owned assets to the federal government to assist in immigration enforcement. These assets include:

• Land for building additional border wall sections
• Military bases to house federal authorities
• 4,000 prison cells for use as detention facilities

Abbott framed the offer as a real estate transaction, emphasizing that Texas has already invested over $5-6 billion in security infrastructure. He also detailed the state’s expanded military and law enforcement resources:

• Military bases in Eagle Pass and Del Rio, capable of housing nearly 2,500 soldiers
• Increased control over land that could be used for further border wall construction
• Law enforcement efforts that have seized large amounts of fentanyl, preventing potential overdoses across the country

During their meeting, Trump publicly praised Abbott’s contributions to border security, calling him “a great friend” and commending his efforts to support federal immigration enforcement. Abbott, who plans to return to Washington next week to continue lobbying for reimbursement, emphasized Texas’ commitment to border security, stating, “Texas can transfer to the United States of America value of well over five or six billion dollars of real assets on the ground that Texas put in place that will continue to secure the United States for decades to come,” while speaking to reporters outside the White House.