Texas officials are taking decisive steps to align with President-elect Donald Trump’s plans for large-scale deportations. Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham offered a 1,400-acre ranch in Starr County, along the U.S.-Mexico border, as a facility for processing and deporting individuals. Purchased earlier this year, the property became available after its previous owner refused to support border wall construction.
Buckingham stated her intent to use all resources to secure the border and proposed the ranch as a site to detain and deport individuals identified as violent criminals. This move aligns with Trump’s campaign promise to launch a mass deportation effort targeting millions of undocumented immigrants. Including many who have lived in the U.S. for years.
Texas’ Ranch Role in Border Enforcement
Texas has consistently led efforts to address immigration, investing over $11 billion in Operation Lone Star to bolster border security. The Rio Grande Sector, where the ranch is located, saw a decline in migrant crossings. This, attributed to both Texas initiatives and recent federal restrictions on asylum access.
Despite this, experts caution that achieving Trump’s high deportation numbers will require targeting nonviolent immigrants. Michael Kagan, an immigration expert, noted that such measures could affect long-standing community members, sparking concerns among critics and even some Trump supporters.
Divided National Response
While Republican-led states rally behind Texas, contributing resources like National Guard deployments, Democrat-led cities and states are reinforcing protections for immigrants. California has initiated legislative measures to challenge Trump’s policies. And cities like Chicago and New York have doubled down on sanctuary laws and support for immigrant communities.
The proposed use of the Texas ranch reflects a shift in immigration strategy—from addressing border crossings to targeting undocumented residents embedded in U.S. communities. This change is expected to fuel further debate over immigration policy, enforcement priorities, and the impact on families and communities.
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