Texas officials have proposed giving President-elect Donald Trump 1,400 acres along the US-Mexico border to build detention facilities for undocumented migrants. According to the Texas General Land Office, the land could support the “largest deportation of violent criminals in the nation’s history.”
Trump has pledged to deport millions of undocumented migrants, promising to mobilize the National Guard to assist. However, his plan faces financial, logistical, and legal obstacles. Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham emphasized the land’s suitability: “It’s flat, easy to build on. We can very easily put a detention centre on there.”
While Texas backs Trump’s border enforcement, Democratic governors in California, Arizona, and New Mexico oppose mass deportations. Trump transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated Trump would “launch the largest mass deportation operation of illegal immigrant criminals in history.”
Trump’s team has hinted at “soft-sided” facilities as part of the plan. Currently, detention options include temporary camps, brick-and-mortar ICE buildings, and local jails. Stephen Miller, a top adviser, previously proposed large-scale holding centers to manage deportations.
Texas has independently bolstered border security since Trump left office. Buckingham reaffirmed her support, saying, “We’re 100% on board with Trump’s pledge to get these criminals out of our country.”