Gov. Greg Abbott plans to ask the federal government to reimburse the state for the financial costs of protecting the southern border. Abbott directed state agencies and county judges to submit an estimate of the fiscal impact of the border crisis on their operations by May 11th. The state will total these costs and send the bill to the federal government. The governor noted that it's the duty of the federal government to secure the border, but the recent surge in illegal immigrants is costing the state an enormous amount.
Photo: A family from El Salvador walks ashore to the bank of the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border on April 14, 2021 in Roma, Texas. A smuggler had rafted them over from Mexico with other immigrants. (Getty Images)