Washington: In support of US President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to deport immigrants, Texas has offered 1,400 acres of state-owned farmland near the US-Mexico border for use. In a letter to Trump on Tuesday, Texas Land Commissioner Don Buckingham said the land would help cooperate with federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
He offered the property in Stairs County as a site to hold “violent offenders” before they are detained and deported. Buckingham criticized his predecessor for opposing wall construction on farmland, saying the move encouraged violence among criminal gangs and exploitation of migrants. Texas acquired the land last month to bolster border security efforts, including plans for the wall.
Trump has made public his intention to declare a national emergency related to immigration. This move has raised concerns among supporters about the humanitarian and logistical implications of expelling millions of people from the country. While Texas supported Trump’s immigration policies, anger is growing against this decision in other states. Along with Buckingham’s support proposal, Los Angeles passed an ordinance to protect immigrants and limit local cooperation with federal immigration officials.
