One state has announced it’s ready to support Donald Trump’s efforts to deport millions of illegal immigrants.
Texas has offered over 1,400 acres of state-owned land for deportation facilities. Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham announced the proposal on Tuesday, signaling the state’s alignment with Trump’s hardline approach to immigration. The land, located in Starr County near the U.S.-Mexico border, is seen as a strategic asset in Trump’s plans to execute what he has described as the largest deportation initiative in U.S. history.
The Daily Caller writes:
“I am writing to formally offer 1,402 acres of land in Starr County, Texas to be used to construct deportation facilities,” Buckingham wrote to the president-elect. “The Texas General Land Office (GLO) currently owns a 1,402-acre tract roughly 35 miles west of McAllen, Texas.”
“My office is fully prepared to enter into an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or the United States Border Patrol to allow a facility to be built for the processing, detention, and coordination of the largest deportation of violent criminals in the nation’s history,” Buckingham continued.
Trump pledged to resume construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, revive the Remain in Mexico program, hire more Border Patrol agents and bring an end to birthright citizenship for those born on U.S. soil to illegal migrant parents. Most notably, he has also vowed to embark on the “largest deportation program in American history.”
The president-elect doubled down on this goal Monday morning by confirming reports that he intends to declare a national emergency and use military assets to help carry out his mass deportation agenda.
The Lone Star State’s proposal has drawn a sharp contrast with Democratic-led states, which are resisting Trump’s immigration policies. Democratic leaders from Illinois, California, Massachusetts, and Arizona have pledged to oppose federal enforcement efforts, while sanctuary city legislation has gained momentum in urban areas like Los Angeles. Boston’s mayor has similarly expressed opposition to Trump’s plans, reflecting widespread resistance among liberal leaders.
Trump gained votes in 2024 in both Los Angeles and Boston.
This political clash underscores the growing partisan divide over immigration policy in the U.S. While red states like Texas embrace Trump’s vision, blue states are positioning themselves as staunch defenders of immigrant rights. Buckingham’s offer, however, solidifies Texas’ role as a leading proponent of the incoming administration’s controversial approach to immigration enforcement.
The state’s proposal also reflects the broader political dynamics of the border crisis, which has disproportionately affected border states during recent years. Texas, often on the frontlines of migration surges, has repeatedly advocated for stricter federal policies to alleviate the strain on local resources. As Trump prepares to take office, the 1,400-acre offer highlights Texas’ readiness to partner with his administration and implement measures that supporters argue are essential to restoring order at the border.
Trump won a mandate for his policies, at least in the border towns that will be impacted the most. The former president captured 55% of Latino voters in the state, according to exit polls. He also won 14 out of the 18 counties within 20 miles of the border, a number that doubled his 2020 performance in the Latino-majority region, according to The Texas Tribune.
