As President-elect Donald Trump gears up for his return to the White House, Texas officials have stepped forward with an offer to aid his ambitious immigration agenda.
In a significant gesture of support, the Texas General Land Office has proposed a 1,402-acre property in Starr County as a site for Trump’s mass deportation efforts.
Dawn Buckingham, the state’s land commissioner, announced the proposal in a letter to Trump on Tuesday, signaling Texas’ readiness to collaborate with federal agencies to secure the southern border.
“I am committed to using every available means at my disposal to gain complete operational security of our border,” Buckingham wrote.
The property, located about 35 miles west of McAllen, Texas, was acquired by the state last month and lies strategically along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Buckingham has proposed that the land be developed into a processing and detention facility, describing it as central to carrying out “the largest deportation of violent criminals in the nation’s history.”
The site could serve as a hub for collaboration between agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the U.S. Border Patrol.
Buckingham criticized her predecessor for failing to utilize the property for border security, claiming that the lack of action allowed criminal elements to exploit the area.
She alleged that the land had become a conduit for cartel activities, including the trafficking and abuse of migrants.
Trump has vowed to declare a national emergency to address immigration issues upon his return to office.
While Texas is rallying to support Trump’s initiative, other states and cities are taking a sharply different approach.
On the same day Buckingham sent her letter, the Los Angeles City Council approved a “sanctuary city” ordinance to protect undocumented migrants within its jurisdiction.
Sanctuary cities refuse full cooperation with federal detention requests, a stance that has drawn fierce criticism from conservatives who view such policies as undermining the rule of law.
Some critics also question the feasibility and legality of deporting millions of undocumented immigrants, setting the stage for contentious debates as Trump prepares to take office.
