Trump team mulls purchase of Texas land along Rio Grande to facilitate mass

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Texas is reportedly offering the incoming Trump administration a plot of land to be used for immigrant detention centers.

Land along the southern border in the Rio Grande was recently purchased by Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham and is reportedly being offered to Trump’s transition team, according to NBC News. Citing an unnamed source, the outlet reported that last week, Gov. Greg Abbott spoke to Trump’s incoming “border czar,” Tom Homan, about the use of the military to transport migrants to the area and the future facility.

“In order to use the property, the incoming Trump administration could declare a national emergency, which would divert funds to build infrastructure and fund troops assigned to a border mission,” NBC News noted. “The work could be done by the National Guard or active-duty military, the source said, and facilities could be soft-sided structures such as tents that could be quickly assembled.”

Abbott’s office is in “regular communication with the incoming Trump administration on effective strategies to secure the border,” the governor’s press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, told the outlet.

“Texas has held the line against the Biden-Harris border crisis for the past four years, and the Governor looks forward to continuing to work closely with President Trump and Border Czar Homan to protect our state and the nation,” Mahaleris said.

The report comes amid Homan’s remarks on carrying out Trump’s campaign promises to deport those illegally in the U.S. The deportation facilities would aid the process by creating a temporary holding area for migrants on their way out of the country.

The 1,402-acre plot of land in question was purchased by Buckingham for $3.8 million in October before Trump won the election.

(Video Credit: CBS News Texas)

“Buckingham’s office has been buying land near the border for the purpose of building a wall. A spokesperson said it will complete a 1.5-mile border wall on the new property this week,” NBC News reported, noting that Buckingham’s office currently owns 13 million acres of land.

“We’ve identified some pieces that we think might be helpful to them, but of course, we will partner with the Trump administration for whatever they need,” Buckingham told NBC News affiliate WOAI last week.

“I think from the detention and deportation standpoint, we probably need some more urban pieces, which we do have,” she said.

Homan toured the border with the governor last month, praising the Republican’s efforts in the Lone Star State.

(Video Credit: Greg Abbott)

“Governor Abbott has done an amazing job of immigration in Texas down 86%… 86% think about that. This is a model we can take across the country. We will help Governor Abbott finish the job he started,” said Homan. “This is a model we can take across the country, unprecedented success in Texas.”

Buckingham spoke at a news conference on the newly purchased land last month, accompanied by the mother and grandmother of Jocelyn Nungaray, the teen who was murdered by an illegal migrant.

“We will locate appropriate land under my jurisdiction to lease for the construction of violent criminal deportation facilities,” Buckingham said. “My office has identified several of our properties and is standing by ready to make this happen on day one of the Trump presidency.”

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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.