FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – With the stroke of a pen, Governor Greg Abbott has agreed to have Texas spend nearly $2 billion on border security.
The governor signed the bill into law Friday, Sept. 17, in Fort Worth because of the effort Fort Worth police officers made in getting it passed.
They were concerned about the opioids crossing the border and making their way into North Texas.
The head of the Fort Worth Police Officer’s Association says drug trafficking is the most important reason for more border security.
“I recognize that criminal activity that pours across the border doesn’t just stop at the border,” said Manny Ramirez of the Fort Worth Police Officer’s Association. “That activity permeates every single community. Five years ago we might’ve had zero cases of fentanyl and today you’re talking 70 to 80 year to date.”
Gov. Abbott was surrounded by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and State Sen. Jane Nelson when he officially made House Bill 9 law in Texas.
Gov. Greg Abbott signs border security bill in Fort Worth (Gov. Abbott’s Office).
It allocates $1.88 billion to border security, which is nearly triple the state’s spending previously.
All of the elected leaders who spoke here today insisted that there is an unprecedented surge of migrants illegally crossing the border over the past year as many as 500,000.
As much as half the border security money would go to a wall which would cover more than 700 miles.
Governor Abbott defended the use of state money for what some believe the federal government should pay for.
“These funds will help the Texas Department of Public Safety arrest more people at the border,” Gov. Abbott said. “They will help the National Guard to secure the Texas border. They will increase funding to build the border wall.”
Governor Abbott criticized the Biden administration for not allocating the money for border security he says Texas needs to keep people safe.
Despite this legislation that conservatives support, Gov. Abbott is getting criticism from his primary opponents who say his actions don’t go far enough.
from CBS Dallas / Fort Worth https://ift.tt/39exbKn
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