Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has requested $30 million from the Obama administration for a state-based border security operation involving the Texas Department of Public Safety.
In a letter, Abbott says the U.S. Border Patrol is overwhelmed with keeping up the influx of minors crossing the border. State Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Canton, who sits on the House Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee, said he agrees with Abbott.
“We got our guys working down there overtime and we don’t have the money for that," Flynn said. "And then we have all these kids jump on top of us and we don’t have the money for that either. But the bottom line is that’s all part of the border security.”
Flynn said the Border Patrol is focusing its attention on the unaccompanied minors problem and overcrowding at some of the immigration holding areas of the state. He said that has resulted in a lack of border security.
Abbott is hoping DHS will approve his request so the DPS can come up with a state-run border operation aimed at drug and human trafficking. Flynn said this will also be the main topic of conversation at the next House Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee hearing in July.
