Abbott schedules border security summit in Del Rio

Governor Greg Abbott is hosting a summit to discuss border security with law enforcement officials and other stakeholders from around the state Thursday at 5 p.m. in Del Rio. The summit is expected to include sheriffs, police chiefs, county judges, mayors and landowners who will be discussing “collaborative strategies between state government, local city and county officials, law enforcement and landowners hoping to secure border communities”, according to a press release.

Others expected to be in attendance at the event include the Texas Division of Emergency Manager Chief Nim Kidd, Texas Military Department Maj. Gen. Tracy Norris and Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw. The summit comes on the heels of comments made by Abbott’s recent appearance on Fox News’ Sean Hannity where he stated he wants to arrest “everybody coming across the border.”

Abbott made disaster declarations in 34 border counties due to the influx of migrants trying to cross the border.

According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, May statistics show that 180,034 migrants were “encountered or apprehended”, a slight increase over the 178,000 taken in during April. Federal Immigration officials have now detained more than 530,000 foreign nationals in the past three months.

The number of unaccompanied minors dropped 23% in May to 10,765 compared to the 13,940 who came across the border in April. The average daily number of children in CBP custody decreased to 640 in May 2021 from 2,895 in April 2021, and unaccompanied children held in CBP facilities spent an average of 26 hours.

CBP figures also show an 18 percent increase in drug seizures in May compared to April. Methamphetamine, heroine and fentanyl were seized in greater amounts, while those involving cocaine dropped.