AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday unveiled of a handful of messages that will be displayed on dozens of billboards throughout Central America and Mexico. 

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Greg Abbott announced a new strategy during a press conference in Eagle Pass that includes a slew of billboards aiming to deter illegal immigration

  • The messages are in Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Arabic, which reflects the diversity of migrants who make the journey from their home countries to Central America with the goal of entering the U.S.

  • Critics have doubts about the effectiveness of the signs on migrants who are leaving countries where they face violence

“One says, 'Many girls who try to migrate to Texas are kidnapped.' Another sign says, 'Your wife and daughter will pay for their trip with their bodies,'” said Abbott. 

Abbott shared the signs in front of burned-down “rape trees,” which Abbott said were given the name after migrants were sexually assaulted and their undergarments put on display. 

Abbott described this as the dangerous reality of trying to enter Texas illegally. Signs closer to the Texas-Mexico border display different messages. 

“One says, ‘Stop. If you cross the border illegally into Texas, you will be jailed.’ Another warns, ‘Don’t come to Texas illegally. You will be arrested’,” said Abbott. 

The messages are in Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Arabic, which reflects the diversity of migrants who make the journey from their home country to Central America with the goal of entering the United States. But political scientists don’t know how much of a deterrent the billboards immigrants will be as more seek asylum directly at the border rather than travel across Central America on foot. 

“They’re not really going through a treacherous journey, right? Like they’re just kind of going to Mexico, going up to the border, and then immediately surrendering to border guards, which is not fun, not easy, but it’s not the same as sneaking across the desert with a coyote,” said Christopher Macaulay, professor of political sciences at Kingsborough Community College. 

Macaulay also has doubts about the effectiveness of the signs on migrants who are leaving countries where they face violence. 

“So they see these signs. They might be thinking, well, I’m already dealing with this here. I might be willing to risk the journey to end up in a place where I’m going to be much safer and much better protected,” said Macaulay. 

But Abbott is confident the latest addition to his border plan will be pivotal in deterring migrants from coming to Texas illegally. If they don’t, he has a backup plan in place. 

“We will work with the Trump administration to deport them. The message is, do not risk a dangerous trip just to be arrested and deported,” said Abbott. 

President-elect Donald Trump promises to carry out mass deportations on his first day in office. One political scientist says Texas has the resources and manpower to help Trump carry out his plan.

“Abbott has at his disposal the apparatus of state and local law enforcement. And that is huge. Texas is a big state, has a lot of law enforcement,” said Macaulay.