U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) have introduced legislation aimed at reimbursing the State of Texas for the significant financial outlay – exceeding $11 billion – spent on Operation Lone Star, the state’s border security initiative. The senators assert that the program was a necessary response to what they describe as the Biden administration’s “dereliction of duty” regarding border security.
Operation Lone Star, launched by Texas, has involved various measures to address what the state views as a crisis at the southern border. The newly proposed “State Border Security Assistance Act” seeks to claw back the costs associated with these efforts.
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“Texas was on the frontlines of the Biden administration’s open border crisis, and Texans were on their own dealing with the consequences,” said Senator Cruz. He added, “I am proud to stand with Governor Abbott and Senator Cornyn to ensure the Lone Star State is reimbursed, and I urge my colleagues to pass this bill expeditiously.”
Senator Cornyn echoed these sentiments, stating, “For four years, Governor Abbott and Texas taxpayers were forced to bear the brunt of the Biden-Harris border crisis.” He emphasized that his legislation would ensure Texas is “repaid for stepping up to protect and defend our nation’s southern border while the Biden-Harris administration abdicated its federal duty.” Cornyn also credited President Donald Trump, Secretary Kristi Noem, Border Czar Tom Homan, and Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks for “enforcing the immigration laws that have been on the books for years.”
A companion bill is being led in the House of Representatives by Representative Chip Roy (R-Texas-21). “For four years, Texans stood in the breach of the worst border crisis in recent American history,” stated Representative Roy.
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He contended that the “dereliction of duty” by President Biden and Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas led to “an invasion of lawlessness, crime, danger, and drugs.” Roy stressed the importance of reimbursing states like Texas that “stood on the front lines to defend our nation when the federal government would not.”
The proposed “State Border Security Assistance Act” would establish funds within the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security. These funds would be used to reimburse states for actions taken to secure the border since January 20, 2021.
The legislation specifically aims to cover costs related to border wall construction, border surveillance, and the apprehension, detention, and prosecution of individuals who have illegally entered the United States.
The bill also specifies that enough money would be appropriated to fully reimburse Texas, and the funds would sunset at the end of the Trump administration, with any remaining money returned to the Treasury for debt reduction.
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