Texas has stepped up to support President-elect Trump’s ambitious plans to crack down on illegal immigration, offering over 1,400 acres in Starr County to facilitate what the state calls “the largest deportation of violent criminals in the nation’s history.” Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham confirmed the offer, describing the land as ideal for a large-scale processing and detention facility near the southern border.
The acreage, purchased by the state in October from a private ranch owner, is located in the Rio Grande Valley, a region that has long been a focal point for border security efforts. According to Buckingham’s letter to Trump, the site is ready to be used for “processing, detention, and coordination” under the purview of agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol.
“What I care about is that we have safe communities,” Buckingham told Fox News. “There is no doubt that we are losing too many of our children to these violent criminals that are coming across the border.” She emphasized Texas’s commitment to aiding the Trump administration’s pledge to remove dangerous offenders from U.S. soil. “We are more than happy to offer our resources to facilitate those deportations,” Buckingham added.
The land, currently farmland, is described as a prime location for constructing a detention center. Buckingham highlighted its accessibility to international airports and major border crossings, which would streamline the logistics of deportations.
Incoming border czar Tom Homan, who will oversee immigration enforcement under Trump, echoed the tough stance. Homan recently stated that illegal immigrants with criminal records should consider self-deportation, warning, “We know who you are, and we’re gonna come and find you.” Homan clarified that those with a clean record beyond illegal entry could voluntarily return to their home countries but would receive no leniency from the administration if they chose to stay and were caught.
Homan also detailed the deportation process, explaining that violent offenders would be transported by plane to their countries of origin. For those who entered illegally but committed no further crimes, he added, “They found their way across the world to come to the greatest nation on earth, and they can find their way home. Either that, or I can give them a free airline ticket.”
Texas’s bold offer reflects the state’s alignment with Trump’s immigration agenda, underscoring its role in tackling what Buckingham calls a crisis of public safety. With this move, the Lone Star State aims to be on the front lines of restoring order at the border.