Texas Governor Greg Abbott has extended a disaster declaration at the state’s southern border, citing a surge of individuals unlawfully crossing the border that pose a continued threat to local communities. The proclamation extending the disaster declaration stated, “The certified conditions continue to exist and pose an ongoing and imminent threat of disaster.”
Mr. Abbott first declared the border security disaster on May 31, 2021, following the launch of Operation Lone Star, which aimed to combat the influx of illegal immigrants into Texas by deploying more resources and strategies. Landowners along the border were experiencing daily property damage and vandalism due to the federal government’s open border policies, according to Mr. Abbott.
The White House did not provide a comment in response to the disaster declaration extension. Members of the Biden administration have denied claims that the president’s border policies have worsened the issue of illegal immigration.
Since the initial proclamation, Mr. Abbott has extended the border security disaster declaration multiple times, with modifications to the list of affected counties. The current list includes a wide range of counties where the disaster declaration is in effect.
Operation Lone Star has led to the apprehension of over 514,900 illegal immigrants and more than 44,600 criminal arrests, with law enforcement seizing a significant amount of fentanyl. Mr. Abbott’s office highlighted the importance of the operation in addressing the gaps left by the federal government’s border security efforts.
While Republicans like Mr. Abbott blame President Biden for exacerbating illegal immigration, Democrats have criticized GOP members in Congress for their handling of the border crisis. The ongoing debate over border security measures and policies continues as both sides seek to address the challenges posed by unlawful border crossings. Please rewrite this sentence.
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