Officials from President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team are considering constructing immigrant detention facilities on land recently acquired by the state of Texas near the Rio Grande, according to a source familiar with the discussions.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently discussed the plan with Tom Homan, Trump’s incoming “border czar.” Their talks included using military resources to transport migrants and establishing facilities on the property. To proceed, the Trump administration could declare a national emergency, enabling the use of military resources such as the National Guard to construct quickly assembled structures like tents.
Governor Abbott’s press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, did not comment specifically on the land but confirmed ongoing collaboration with Trump’s team on border security strategies. “Texas has held the line against the Biden-Harris border crisis for the past four years, and the Governor looks forward to continuing this partnership with President Trump and Border Czar Homan,” Mahaleris stated.
The Trump transition team did not respond to requests for comment.
Trump has vowed to deport millions of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. To support this goal, his administration plans to significantly expand detention facilities for holding immigrants awaiting deportation.
On October 23, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham purchased a 1,402-acre plot of land along the Rio Grande for $3.8 million. Buckingham’s office offered the property to the Trump administration as a potential site for deportation facilities. Her office is also completing a 1.5-mile border wall on the newly acquired land.
Buckingham’s spokesperson revealed plans to acquire additional land along the border for security purposes. While no permit applications have been filed to construct facilities on this particular property, Buckingham mentioned that other plots around the state, including urban areas, could support detention and deportation operations.
In addition to the Rio Grande land, Buckingham acquired over 350,000 acres near Big Bend National Park in late October. Known as Brewster Ranch, this property features some Rio Grande frontage and had been listed for sale for over a year. While the land was purchased without conservation restrictions, local officials, such as Brewster County Judge Greg Henington, believe its vast and rugged terrain is unsuitable for deportation facilities and anticipate it may be developed for eco-tourism.
Kimberly Hubbard, a spokesperson for the Texas General Land Office, affirmed that Brewster Ranch is unlikely to host detention centers due to its challenging terrain. However, she emphasized Commissioner Buckingham’s commitment to collaborating with the Trump administration on securing the southern border.
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