Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Friday that the construction of the state’s border wall has begun.
“Texas has officially started building its own border wall,” Abbott tweeted.
“Biden allows open border policies and refuses to enforce laws passed by Congress to secure the border and enforce immigration laws,” The governor added. “Texas is stepping up to do the federal government’s job.”
Texas has officially started building its own border wall.
Biden allows open border policies and refuses to enforce laws passed by Congress to secure the border and enforce immigration laws.
Texas is stepping up to do the federal government’s job. https://t.co/K7CbIPs75p
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) December 17, 2021
Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin posted pictures of the first panels on Friday.
“Texas has officially started building its own border wall. The first wall panels have gone up in Starr County in the RGV. State land, state money. This particular contractor was building Trump’s wall until Biden cancelled them. Now they build for @GregAbbott_TX,” Melugin tweeted.
NEW: Texas has officially started building its own border wall. The first wall panels have gone up in Starr County in the RGV. State land, state money. This particular contractor was building Trump’s wall until Biden cancelled them. Now they build for @GregAbbott_TX. @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/8wgZIXeFz4
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) December 17, 2021
In another update, Melugin reported the federal government will not sell Texas the steel previously purchased to build the border wall under former President Donald Trump.
“The federal government will not sell Texas the steel that was already bought and paid for President Trump’s wall. The metal continues to sit around, going to waste. TX is sourcing its own steel for its border wall,” he posted.
The federal government will not sell Texas the steel that was already bought and paid for for President Trump’s wall. The metal continues to sit around, going to waste. TX is sourcing its own steel for its border wall. @FoxNews https://t.co/LSF7s709iO
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) December 17, 2021
On Thursday, the Texas Military Department (TMD) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) held a briefing to update Texans on Operation Lone Star.
“Anyone attempting to enter Texas illegally by crossing these fences will be arrested for criminal trespassing,” DPS Director Steven McCraw said during the hearing. “Catch and release is not part of Operation Lone Star’s mission.”
The Daily Wire previously reported on Wednesday that Abbott planned to erect the barrier.
“Construction of Texas-Mexico border wall will begin soon,” Abbott tweeted.
“In the Biden Administration’s absence, Texas is stepping up to get the job done by building our own border wall,” he added.
Construction of Texas-Mexico border wall will begin soon.
In the Biden Administration’s absence, Texas is stepping up to get the job done by building our own border wall.https://t.co/jLEBT0QenL
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) December 15, 2021
The post included a link to an article published on Tuesday by Houston’s KPRC-TV.
“Construction is expected to begin soon on a 1.7-mile portion of the Texas border wall,” the report said.
“During a Nov. 18 TFC meeting, commissioners unanimously approved a design-build contract that will not exceed $162 million for a total of eight miles of border wall that will fill gaps between portions of the federal border wall,” the report said.
“The contract was awarded to Posillico Civil, Inc., a 75-year-old New York-based engineering firm that has worked on other border projects,” it added.