Texas Governor Greg Abbott is urging Congress to reimburse the state for its border security initiative, Operation Lone Star. In letters to key members of Congress and the Texas congressional delegation, Abbott requested reimbursement of over $11.1 billion spent by Texas taxpayers on border security measures during the Biden administration. Texas allocated a record-breaking $11.6 billion towards border security over four years under the current administration, surpassing previous federal allocations. Despite substantial funding from Texas for Operation Lone Star, the federal government has yet to provide any reimbursement. Governor Abbott criticized President Biden’s open-border policies, which he claims have left Texas vulnerable to criminal elements and illegal activities along the border. Operation Lone Star has been successful in apprehending illegal border crossers, preventing illegal entries, and making criminal arrests. The state has also constructed over 240 miles of border barriers and established a National Guard base along the border. Governor Abbott emphasized that Texas taxpayers should not bear the financial burden of border security efforts that are the federal government’s responsibility.
The total cost of border security measures undertaken in Texas, including the construction of miles of border wall and marine buoy barriers, amounted to over $3 billion. In addition, the installation and reinforcement of 200 miles of concertina wire barriers incurred a cost of $58 million. Furthermore, the deployment of over 10,000 Texas National Guard troops and the bolstering of Texas Department of Public Safety troopers in the border region came with a hefty price tag of nearly $6 billion.
Governor Abbott has formally submitted a request to Congress seeking full reimbursement for these expenses, emphasizing that the financial burden borne by the state is a direct consequence of the federal government’s failure to fulfill its responsibilities. Abbott underscored the pivotal role played by Texas through Operation Lone Star in safeguarding not only the state but the entire nation.
This formal plea for reimbursement echoes a proposal put forth last year by U.S. Representative Roger Williams, a Republican hailing from northern Texas. Williams’ Operation Lone Star Reimbursement Act aims to compel the federal government to repay Texas for the costs incurred under OLS, which had soared to over $8 billion at the time, as reported by The Center Square.
