Only in Texas? “Texas empties prison to prepare to detain immigrants arrested during ramped-up border enforcement”

Photo courtesy of the Texas Office of the Governor

Reese Oxner for the Texas Tribune reports on an amazing development showing how much some political leaders fear immigrants: 

“Texas officials have emptied a prison to prepare it to hold immigrants arrested by state troopers as Gov. Greg Abbott ramps up the state’s law enforcement presence on the border.

Officials began transferring prisoners Wednesday from Dolph Briscoe Unit in Dilley — a small city . . . southwest of San Antonio — to other facilities with available capacity so the prison can be used as a central holding facility for immigrants arrested as part of Abbott’s Operation Lone Star . . . .  It will be used to hold immigrants who have been charged with state or federal crimes . . . . “

Governor Abbott has focused on immigration and has a “Border Crisis Update” webpage.  It allows visitors to donate to “Texas Border Wall funding.”  The website explains that

“[o]pen-border policies have led to a humanitarian crisis at our southern border as record levels of illegal immigrants, drugs, and contraband pour into Texas. The State of Texas is working collaboratively with communities impacted by the border crisis to arrest and detain individuals coming into Texas illegally. Our efforts will only be effective if we work together to secure the border, make criminal arrests, protect landowners, rid our communities of dangerous drugs, and provide Texans with the support they need and deserve.”

KJ