Gov. Greg Abbott announced Sept. 18 that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has approved a $7.5 billion reimbursement to Texas for border security costs the state absorbed in recent years.
The governor’s office described the award as historic and said it was approved under the State Border Security Reinforcement Fund, created in the federal legislation known as the One Big Beautiful Bill. Texas submitted its application to the department in June, according to the release.
“I spoke with Secretary Mullin yesterday, who confirmed that the Department of Homeland Security will be sending Texas $7.5 billion as part of the federal funding to reimburse Texas,” Abbott said in the release. “Texas held the line when Washington would not. Texas taxpayers spent billions to stop illegal crossings, catch criminals, and seize deadly drugs. This reimbursement is a victory for those taxpayers.”
Abbott thanked President Donald Trump and the homeland security secretary for the action.
The reimbursement covers spending under Operation Lone Star, the border enforcement effort the state launched to supplement federal operations. Under the operation, the state deployed thousands of Texas National Guard soldiers and Department of Public Safety troopers, built border barriers and used technology to stop illegal crossings and interdict drugs, according to the release.
The governor’s office said illegal border crossings were reduced by more than 80 percent under the operation.
State officials said Texas is also applying for a portion of an additional $3 billion in U.S. Department of Justice funds, which the release said would fully reimburse the state for costs it attributes to the Biden administration’s refusal to enforce federal immigration law.
The announcement did not specify when the money would reach the state or how it would be applied within the Texas budget. The governor’s office said the Department of Homeland Security approval followed the June application and characterized the payment as a return to Texas taxpayers for work the state carried out in place of the federal government.