AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that his office will provide two grants to meet needs incurred as a result of the federal government’s placing hundreds of Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) into temporary shelters in two Texas counties.
The Office of the Governor will provide up to $200,000 in Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funds to support increased law enforcement activities, a statement from the governor’s office reveals. The funds will be used by the sheriffs in Rockwall and Ellis counties to help defray the increased cost of securing facilities in their counties.
The grants include funds for overtime for law enforcement or other related critical security needs associated with the placement of Central American nationals and unaccompanied minors in these two counties.
When asked at a meeting of the Indian American Chamber of Commerce last week in Dallas about his reaction to the no-notice dumping of these children on the two Texas counties, the Governor responded, “I warned about this in a letter from me to Jeh Johnson back at the end of September.” Breitbart Texas obtained a copy of the governor’s comments from his office.
Abbott recounted his conversation with the Secretary of Homeland Security. “We have this rise that is unexpected in the number of unaccompanied children that are coming across the border,” he explained. “And I demanded at that time, from the Obama Administration, that they provide more law enforcement and border security officers. They talked timely, but did absolutely nothing in response to the situation. I told them that if they did not respond, we would be having this challenge right now.”
“Texas is overrun now with people who are coming to Texas from across the globe,” he continued.
To the residents of Rockwall and Ellis Counties, the governor said they need to know “I am working every single day to stop the number of people who are coming into this state illegally.”
Breitbart Texas reported last week that 800 or more UACs from Central America were being transferred from overcrowded shelters in South Texas to temporary facilities in Ellis and Rockwall Counties. Ellis County Commissioner Paul Perry said, “This is being imposed upon us with very little notice.” He said they received no consultation from the federal government.
Ellis County Sheriff Johnny Brown eluded to the security issues surrounding the children’s arrival, in a report by Breitbart Texas’ Bob Price. He also expressed concern about the security of the surrounding citizens. “At no time will these kids be left alone,” Sheriff Brown said during a county meeting. “They will have no transportation, should they attempt to escape, so threats to our surrounding community is very low.”
Brown stated he would be drawing on law enforcement resources from communities across the county to maintain the necessary security perimeter.
Lana Shadwick is a contributing writer and legal analyst for Breitbart Texas. She has served as a prosecutor and associate judge. Follow her on Twitter @LanaShadwick2
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