AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday ordered state agencies to cooperate with the administration of President Donald Trump on mass deportation efforts.


What You Need To Know

  • Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued five executive orders on Wednesday directing state agencies to partner with the Trump administration on mass deportation efforts

  • One of the orders directs agencies to identify land in Texas that could be used to detain undocumented immigrants 

  • Other orders are focused on intelligence sharing and improved operational security at the southern border

  • Abbott's orders follow a series of "targeted operations" in Texas cities by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement this past weekend

He also ordered agencies to identify Texas land that can be used to detain undocumented immigrants while deportation processing is underway.

Abbott issued five executive orders:

  • Directing state agencies to assist federal immigration officers to investigate, arrest, detain, and deport illegal immigrants in Texas.
  • Directing the Texas Military Department to assist the United States Northern Command in repelling the invasion, securing the southern border, and neutralizing foreign enemies infiltrating Texas.
  • Directing state agencies to assist federal partners to deploy additional border barriers to improve operational security at the southern border.
  • Directing state agencies to share intelligence on foreign terrorist organizations, like Mexican cartels and Tren de Aragua, with federal law enforcement personnel to support counter-terror operations.
  • Directing the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Texas Facilities Commission to identify all Texas land and facilities for federal partners to lease and use for the detention and deportation of illegal immigrants.  

“For the past four years, Texas has worked around-the-clock to defend our southern border while former President Joe Biden refused to protect our country from an invasion he allowed,” Abbott wrote in a news release. “Now, we have a Commander-in-Chief in the White House who will do what is necessary to protect Americans.”

Abbott’s order follows raids in Texas last weekend. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted “targeted operations” in Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Brownsville, McAllen, Irving, Dallas and Fort Worth.

Abbott earlier this week sent 400 additional troops and helicopters to bolster the state’s military presence in the Rio Grande Valley.

During his first week in office, Trump signed 10 executive orders on immigration and issued a slew of edicts to conduct promises of mass deportations and border security.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick this week listed among his priorities for the current session of the Legislature a bill that would require local law enforcement to assist the federal government’s deportation efforts.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.