[KARAH RUCKER]

TEXAS CONTINUES TO MAKE PROGRESS ON EFFORTS TO SECURE ITS SOUTHERN BORDER WITH MEXICO – BUT IT’S COMING AT A COST.

GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT IS DOUBLING DOWN ON A MASSIVE, STATE-FUNDED BORDER WALL PROJECT – ALL PART OF OPERATION LONE STAR.

WE’RE LEARNING THAT 3-YEARS IN – ONLY 34 MILES OF THE PROPOSED 1254-MILE WALL HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

AND NEW PROJECTIONS SUGGEST AT THIS RATE IT WON’T BE COMPLETED FOR ANOTHER 30 YEARS AND WILL COST ABOUT 20-BILLION-DOLLARS.

CURRENTLY, THE CONSTRUCTED SECTIONS OF THE WALL ACCOUNT FOR ONLY 4-PERCENT OF THE TARGETED AREAS. THE GOAL? HIT 100 MILES BY THE END OF 2026 — WHICH BREAKS DOWN TO ABOUT HALF A MILE PER WEEK.

LAND ACQUISITION HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLE, AS CONTRACTORS FACE CHALLENGES SECURING  LAND EASEMENTS. THE TEXAS FACILITIES COMMISSION, THOUGH, SAYS IT HAS REACHED A TURNING POINT, WITH  IMPROVED NEGOTIATIONS LEADING TO 79 EASEMENTS COVERING APPROXIMATELY 59 MILES OF THE PROPOSED WALL.

TEXAS HAS ALREADY POURED OVER 3 BILLION DOLLARS INTO THE WALL CONSTRUCTION.

THOSE FUNDS DON’T ACCOUNT FOR WORK BEING DONE ON A FORWARD OPERATING BASE IN EAGLE PASS — RECOGNIZED AS A MAJOR HOTSPOT FOR MIGRANT CROSSINGS, WITH ABOUT 214-THOUSAND RECORDED ENCOUNTERS THROUGH MAY OF THIS YEAR.

THE 80-ACRE FACILITY IS ALREADY CAPABLE OF ACCOMMODATING AROUND 300 TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS, WITH PLANS TO EXPAND AND HOUSE UP TO 1,800.

DESPITE EFFORTS FROM TEXAS LAWMAKERS, SECURITY AT THE BORDERS STILL VARIES SIGNIFICANTLY DEPENDING ON LOCATION. FOR INSTANCE, EL PASO FEATURES A STEEL WALL, ERECTED IN 2018 DURING DONALD TRUMP’S PRESIDENCY. IN CONTRAST, EAGLE PASS UTILIZES A MAKESHIFT COMBINATION OF SHIPPING CONTAINERS, CHAIN-LINK FENCES, AND CONCERTINA WIRE ALONG THE RIO GRANDE.

SINCE THE LAUNCH OF OPERATION LONE STAR, TEXAS TAXPAYERS HAVE ALREADY SPENT 11 BILLION DOLLARS ON THESE VARIOUS SECURITY MEASURES. THIS HAS DRAWN MIXED CRITICISM ACROSS THE STATE. SUPPORTERS ARGUE IT’S A NECESSARY RESPONSE TO FEDERAL INACTION ON BORDER SECURITY AND IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND MANY PROPONENTS HAVE EVEN DONATED TO THOSE EFFORTS – GIVING MORE THAN 56-MILLION BY THE END OF LAST YEAR. CRITICS — HOWEVER — QUESTION THE EFFICACY AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INITIATIVE. THE ACLU OF TEXAS SUGGESTS A PORTION OF ARRESTS MADE UNDER THE OPERATION RAISE QUESTIONS  ABOUT RACIAL PROFILING.

I’M LAUREN TAYLOR

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