Texas Border Sheriffs Raise Concerns of Governor Abbott’s Mass Incarceration Plan of Undocumented Immigrants
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2021
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced at a press conference held on Thursday, June 10, 2021 in Del Rio, Texas that the State of Texas was going to build the U.S.-Mexico Border Wall along Texas’ border with Mexico, over 1,000 miles, and start arresting and incarcerating all undocumented immigrants entering Texas illegally.
Attending the press conference dubbed as a “Border Security Summit” in Del Rio were Sheriffs, Police Chiefs, County Judges, Mayors, District Attorneys, and landowners.
Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber of Eagle Pass, Texas, a former U.S. Border Patrol Officer, stated he was concerned with Abbott’s mass incarceration plans of undocumented immigrants entering illegally into Texas because his Maverick County Jail does not have sufficient space to house such a large number of people nor the financial budget to implement Abbott’s plans.
Sheriff Schmerber stated that the Maverick County Tom Bowles Detention Center was already 93% full with the increased number of new arrests being made by Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers participating in Abbott’s “Operation Lone Star” initiated in March of 2021.
Sheriff Schmerber added that Maverick County had just reached an agreement with Hidalgo County to house up to 32 of its inmates at the Tom Bowles Detention Center, bringing to full capacity Maverick County’s Detention Center.
Similarly, Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez of Del Rio, Texas raised concerns with Abbott’s plan to arrest and detain all undocumented immigrants, including families with children, entering illegally into Texas because his Val Verde Correctional Facility does not have sufficient space to house such large number of persons nor facilities to house families with children.
Sheriff Martinez noted he preferred the State of Texas finish construction of a two-mile long U.S.-Mexico Border Wall segment that was under construction but halted after President Biden took office on January 20, 2021. Sheriff Martinez added that the U.S. Border Patrol already handles immigration law on the border as well as in the nation.
In addition to lacking the detention space for large number of undocumented immigrants, Sheriff Martinez stated his office does not possess the financial resources or budget to accommodate these added detainees, particularly minor children and families.
Governor Abbott has asked all Texas counties to submit a financial proposal and list of equipment and resources needed to implement Abbott’s build the border wall and detention plans of undocumented immigrants in Texas.
