The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has approved reimbursing Texas $7.5 billion for costs tied to the state’s border security operations, The Center Square reported, citing a new federal law and Gov. Greg Abbott’s account of a call with Homeland Security leadership.
Abbott said he spoke with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, “who confirmed that the Department of Homeland Security will be sending Texas $7.5 billion as part of the federal funding to reimburse Texas.” Abbott added, “Texas held the line when Washington would not. Texas taxpayers spent billions to stop illegal crossings, catch criminals, and seize deadly drugs. This reimbursement is a victory for those taxpayers,” according to The Center Square. Abbott thanked the president and Mullin.
New federal fund cited
The Center Square reports the reimbursement will come from a State Border Security Reinforcement Fund created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, secured, according to the outlet. The governor’s office submitted Texas’ application to DHS in June, The Center Square reported.
Texas pursuing more reimbursement
Abbott also said Texas is applying to the U.S. Department of Justice for reimbursement of a portion of an additional $3 billion the state spent on border security. He said this would “fully reimburse Texas for costs incurred due to the Biden Administration’s refusal to enforce federal immigration law,” The Center Square reported.
What Texas has spent and done
During the Biden administration, the Texas Legislature allocated more than $11.6 billion to border security efforts—described as the most in state history—according to The Center Square. Abbott launched Operation Lone Star (OLS) in March 2021. OLS efforts include deploying Texas National Guard soldiers and Department of Public Safety troopers; constructing a state border wall; installing concertina wire and marine barriers; and expanding technology, interdiction, and specialized units such as brush teams, canine, and equestrian units, The Center Square reported.
From March 2021 through February 2026, OLS officers apprehended 538,141 people who crossed illegally, including those referred to Border Patrol, and deterred 157,112 illegal entries, according to OLS data obtained by The Center Square. The outlet also reported record drug seizures by OLS since March 2021, including methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and enough fentanyl to kill nearly one tenth of the world’s population, citing data it obtained.
The Center Square reported that illegal crossings at the southwest border dropped by more than 95% under the second Trump administration. The outlet also reported that OLS 2.0 is targeting cartel networks and criminal actors designated as foreign terrorist organizations such as Tren de Aragua, and that more than half a million Venezuelan nationals have been apprehended by Border Patrol agents in Texas after illegally entering the U.S.
Local prosecutors press for funding
Law enforcement officials quoted by The Center Square argued continued OLS funding is needed for national security and for prosecutors, jails, and transportation. “Just because the bodies quit coming, we still have this massive cleanup to do,” Kinney County Sheriff Brad Coe told The Center Square. “We still need funding for jail facilities and transportation.”
“Many people overlook the fact that successful prosecutions are more important than arrest numbers in achieving justice and creating a deterrence for those who commit crimes,” Kinney County Attorney Brent Smith told The Center Square. He added: “The underlying reason why millions of illegal aliens invaded our country during the Biden administration is quite simple: people do not follow laws unless they are enforced.”
