Abandoning a signature security initiative after campaigning heavily on it, Texas has suddenly paused new funding for its border wall construction.
Governor Greg Abbott’s administration dropped the project after completing just 65 miles of the 1,200-mile Texas-Mexico border.
The state’s decision to defund the critical barrier comes amid decreasing illegal immigration figures.
The Republican-led Texas legislature recently approved a new budget that completely eliminates future funding for the border wall initiative championed by Abbott since 2021.
This shocking reversal comes after the governor had previously made the wall construction a centerpiece of his tough approach to illegal immigration and border security.
Abbott spokesman Andrew Mahaleris justified the funding cut by crediting the Trump administration.
He said:
“Thanks to President Trump’s bold leadership, the federal government is finally fulfilling its obligation to secure the southern border and deport criminal illegal immigrants. Because of these renewed federal assets in Texas, our state can now adjust aspects of state-funded border security efforts.”
The state has only managed to construct a mere 65 miles of barrier along the sprawling 1,200-mile Texas-Mexico border.
This represents completion of just 8% of Texas’s border with Mexico, leaving the vast majority of the frontier open.
While the state is discontinuing new funding allocations, officials assert that existing funds will allow construction to continue through 2026, potentially adding up to 85 additional miles of barrier.
The revised Texas budget allocates $3.4 billion for border security over the next two years, focusing primarily on Operation Lone Star, the state’s broader border enforcement initiative.
This represents a dramatic decrease from the previous $6.5 billion allocation.
The wall project faced numerous obstacles from the beginning, including challenges with land acquisition and opposition from border communities and activists.
Liberal opponents of the wall predictably celebrated the funding decision.
“This wall should have never been built, it’s useless. It divides our community,” said Bekah Hinojosa, an activist who has opposed the wall construction.
Despite these challenges, the decision to halt funding comes at a curious time.
While border authorities report decreased illegal crossings in recent months, many border communities continue to face significant impacts from illegal immigration, human trafficking, and drug smuggling operations.
Abbott had previously sought alternative funding methods for the wall, including soliciting private donations from Americans who supported stronger border enforcement.
As Texas shifts its border security strategy, many supporters will now look to the Trump administration to fulfill promises of completing a border wall system.
