TEXAS — According to a social media post from the Texas General Land Office, President-elect Donald Trump’s “border czar,” Tom Homan, has accepted Texas’ offer of land on the U.S.-Mexico border for potential mass deportations.

What You Need To Know

  • President-elect Donald Trump's "border czar," Tom Homan, has accepted Texas' land offer for potential mass deportations 

  • The state offered more than 1,400 acres of land in rural Starr County 

  • Homan accepted the offer from Texas Land Commissions Dawn Buckingham on the "Dr. Phil Primetime" talk show

  • Homan praised Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's efforts to secure the Texas portion of the U.S.-Mexico

Homan accepted the offer from Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham on an episode of the “Dr. Phil Primetime” talk show.

The more than 1,400 acres of land, located in rural Starr County, would accommodate deportation facilities. Texas says more land may be made available.

“We just want to be good partners. Texas has been standing in the gap while the Biden administration has abdicated its duty to protect the border,” Buckingham said. “Our offer was simply this: If we have something that’s of use to you, if there’s a way to help get these violent criminals off our soil who are raping and murdering our sons and daughters, we want to be a part of that.”

The property has no paved roads and sits in a county with one public hospital and limited local resources.

Texas leaders have long backed aggressive measures on the border to curb crossings, including installing razor-wire barriers and passing a law last year that would allow law enforcement to arrest migrants who cross the border illegally.

Trump has said he plans to begin his deportation efforts on the first day of his presidency. He frequently attacked illegal immigration during his campaign, linking a record spike in unauthorized border crossings to issues ranging from drug trafficking to high housing prices.

There are an estimated 11 million people in the country illegally. Questions remain about how people would be identified and where they would be detained.

A 1.5-mile stretch of border wall was built under Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in 2021 on that land. Buckingham said with the recent purchase, the state has created another easement for more border wall construction.

Homan, while accepting the offer from Buckingham, had high praise for Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

“Gov. Abbott has done more to secure this border than anybody in this (Biden) administration. Every ounce of fentanyl his troopers seize is one less overdose deaths across the nation,” he said.

Homan said those scheduled for deportation will have a short stay in facilities constructed in Texas and elsewhere.

“They’ll be moving in and out. One day we might have a flight to the El Salvadoran nations, the next day we have a flight to Asia,” he said.