Texas authorities have offered the incoming Trump administration land on the border with Mexico to build “deportation facilities” in support of the president-elect’s plan for the mass removal of undocumented migrants.
Incoming president Donald Trump said this week he planned to declare a national emergency on border security and use the US military to carry out the mass deportation of undocumented migrants after taking office in January.
On Wednesday, the Texas General Land Office announced that commissioner Dawn Buckingham has offered him more than 1,400 acres (570 hectares) of public land on the US southern border “to aid his administration in carrying out their deportation plans”.
The plot of land is a ranch along the Rio Grande river — serving as a border between the United States and Mexico — in Starr county. It was acquired by the office in late October, the statement from the agency said.
In a letter dated Tuesday, Buckingham said she had authorized a 1.5-mile easement on the ranch to allow “the Texas Border Wall to be built” after the land was acquired.
READ ALSO: Akpabio Felicitates With Muslims At Sallah, Drums Support For Tinubu’s Govt The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday felicitated with Muslims over the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations and urged Nigerians to support the administration of President Bola Tinubu. Akpabio, in a release, implored Muslims in Nigeria to imbibe the spirit of the season, reminding them that the “essence of the season which underscores our submission to the will of the Almighty God and the importance of sacrifice in our daily life should not be lost on us.” The Senate President recalled that since Tinubu’s inauguration began on May 29, he has taken some bold steps in the right direction. He noted that some of the actions may be inconveniencing, and hailed the resilience of Nigerians in the face of current challenges. “I salute the resilience and patriotism of Nigerians in the face of the current challenges facing our nation. We should all see it as part of the process of nation-building. “Even though the measures bring with them some inconveniences, I earnestly appeal to fellow Nigerians to look at the larger picture of the expected outcomes, be patient with the new government and give it their full support to take Nigeria out of the woods,” Akpabio added. See the full statement below: I most happily join Nigerians, particularly the Muslim Ummah, in celebrating this year’s Sallah festival. I especially rejoice with our dear President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as he celebrates the first Eid-el-Kabir as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I also congratulate the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, on the occasion of the celebrations of an important pillar of Islam.As we join our Muslim brethren to observe this day, the essence of the season which underscores our submission to the will of the Almighty God and the importance of sacrifice in our daily life should not be lost on us. I salute the resilience and patriotism of Nigerians in the face of the current challenges facing our nation. We should all see it as part of the process of nation building. In just a few weeks since his inauguration, President Tinubu has taken some bold steps which have been globally acclaimed as being in the right direction. Even though the measures bring with them some inconveniences, I earnestly appeal to fellow Nigerians to look at the larger picture of the expected outcomes, be patient with the new government and give it their full support to take Nigeria out of the woods. The 10th National Assembly will do its utmost to provide President Tinubu-led government complementary support through necessary legislative interventions for the benefit of Nigerians. We will, in the process, ensure inclusivity, fairness and justice for Nigerians through legislations. I wish you all a happy celebrations. Signed: Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON
She added that her office was “fully prepared” to work with US federal agencies to “allow a facility to be built for the processing, detention, and coordination of the largest deportation of violent criminals in the nation’s history.”
Republican Trump has repeatedly railed against undocumented migrants during the election campaign, blaming them for “poisoning the blood” of the country and highlighting violent crimes perpetrated by members of the migrant community.
Before his first term as president, he had pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border, but the project was never completed.
Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Trump’s transition team, said he would “marshal every lever of power to secure the border”, according to US broadcaster ABC.
Authorities estimate that about 11 million people are living in the United States illegally — many fleeing violence or economic troubles in their countries and looking for a better life in America.
Trump’s deportation plan is expected to impact around 20 million families.
Credit: Vanguard
