texas

Texas Gov. Abbott Requests Federal Help at the Border

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he is once again asking the federal government to send more agents to secure the state's border with Mexico.

He said he warned the U.S. Department of Homeland Security months ago about a spike in undocumented immigrants arriving in Texas over the summer.

Now, hundreds of immigrant children from Central American countries are being temporarily relocated to sites in North Texas while federal officials determine where they are allowed to go.

"I told them if they did not respond they would be having this challenge right now," said Abbott, who spoke at the U.S. India Chamber of Commerce banquet Thursday in Addison.

Abbott sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson back in September asking for more agents, as reports showed an increase in the number of undocumented immigrants.

"I demanded at that time from the Obama administration that they provide us more law enforcement and more border security officers. They talked nicely but did absolutely nothing," Abbott said.

 
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Abbott said Thursday he is once again asking the Obama administration to provide more resources to Texas.

NBC 5 reached out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for comment Thursday, but there has not yet been a reply. When Abbott sent the request in September, DHS spokesman S.Y. Lee told NBC 5 the following:

"DHS will respond directly to the Governor.

"Total apprehensions across our entire Southwest border remain at near-historic lows. Over the last 15 years, our government has invested more in border security than at any point in the history of this Nation. Apprehensions on the Southern border, an indicator of total attempts to cross the border, has dramatically declined to 400,000-450,000 per year. In Fiscal Year 2014, total apprehensions along the southern border were 479,000. For FY 2015, apprehensions are expected to be down significantly to approximately 330,000— only one time since 1972 has that number been lower.

"Today, the Border Patrol consists of 20,499 Border Patrol Agents, and the largest-ever level of technology and equipment. DHS continues to focus on and invest in technology, surveillance equipment, and a risk-based strategy towards border security and that is reflected in the Department’s budget submission for FY 2016.

"Without a doubt, we had an unprecedented number of unaccompanied children and others who crossed a narrow area of our southern border in the Rio Grande Valley last summer, in search of a better and safer life in this country. We responded aggressively to this spike, and the numbers of unaccompanied children and others crossing into the Rio Grande Valley dropped dramatically.

"At the same time, general conditions related to the economy and violence in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala have not improved and continue to serve as push factors leading to migration northward. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is conducting a renewed public awareness campaign to distribute information to Central American and Mexican communities concerning the dangers of the journey, dispelling misinformation about our immigration policies, and underscoring that those attempting to come here illegally are a top priority for removal."

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