Speaking at a border security summit in Del Rio, Texas, Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott, while airing his frustrations with Biden administration immigration policy, said Texas will build its own border wall with Mexico.


What You Need To Know

  • Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced the state will construct its own border wall with Mexico

  • Announcement came during a border security summit in Del Rio, Texas, on Thursday

  • Details concerning construction, cost and other associated concerns have not been released 

  • President Biden halted construction of the Trump-era wall in January 

"I will announce next week the plan for the state of Texas to begin building the border wall in the state of Texas,” he said.

So far, that’s the extent of the announcement. There was no discussion about how it will be paid for, whether it will involve eminent domain, who will construct said wall or a time frame for completion.

President Joe Biden in January halted construction of former President Donald Trump’s border wall.

As of Jan. 15, the government spent $6.1 billion of the $10.8 billion in work it signed contracts to have done, the Associated Press reported. The full amount under contract would have extended Trump’s wall to 664 miles.

In addition to his announcement about the wall, Abbott announced that migrants who cross into Texas illegally will be subject to arrest and confinement for trespassing.

Abbott also announced the Governor’s Task Force on Border and Homeland Security, which will meet bi-weekly and advise on strategies to handle the surge in migrant border crossings.

Abbott again blamed the Biden administration for the uptick in illegal border crossings.

“President Biden’s open-border policies have led to a humanitarian crisis at our southern border as record levels of illegal immigrants, drugs, and contraband pour into Texas,” Gov. Abbott said. “While securing the border is the federal government’s responsibility, Texas will not sit idly by as this crisis grows. The state is working collaboratively with communities impacted by the crisis to arrest and detain individuals coming into Texas illegally."

According to the results of an exclusive Spectrum News-IPSOS poll, Texans seem happier with the way both President Joe Biden and Texas border patrol agents have handled immigration versus the way they felt about how both former President Donald Trump and Gov. Abbott have dealt with the issue.

RELATED: Exclusive Spectrum News-Ipsos poll finds Texans favor slowing immigration

While 44% of Texans approve of Biden’s stewardship of the issue, only 38% liked Donald Trump’s approach. Just 35% approved of the job Abbott has done. Border patrol agents won the most praise, with 47% approval. The numbers for the two presidents and border officers are within one percentage point of the national opinion, the survey concluded. 

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