In the wake of recent arrests of violent criminals at the Texas border, gubernatorial candidate Don Huffines criticized Gov. Greg Abbott for what he perceives as a lack of action on border security issues. 

Earlier in the week, Texas Border Patrol officers arrested several groups of people entering the United States illegally. Among the group were two convicted murderers, a sex offender, and multiple established members of the MS-13 gang. In response to this Huffines took aim at Abbott. 

“Texas must stop relying on the empty promises of career politicians if we want to save our state; the Texas Border must be secured" Huffines said. "Greg Abbott has promised to secure the Texas Border for seven years and it is worse than it has ever been. When I am governor, I will close all traffic into Texas from Mexico, deport illegal aliens, and finish President Trump’s border wall.”

Texas' border with Mexico extends for 1,254 miles. During the Trump presidency, 21 miles of the new border fence was built. Abbott promised in summer of 2021 that he would finish construction of the barrier. As of December of that year, just 900 additional feet had been built. 

Texas has allocated over $1 billion for the wall, but the governor has not provided any information on additional plans for construction. During the 2021 fiscal year, U.S. Border Patrol agents captured nearly 2 million people trying to come into the U.S. illegally, the majority of whom were aiming to cross the southern border. The past record for the highest number of people caught at the border was 1.64 million in 2000.

Huffines has said border security is one of his top priorities. If elected, Huffines vows to complete construction the border fence, use the Texas National Guard to secure the border and end all taxpayer subsidies for individuals who have entered the United States illegally.