Governor Abbott Announces “ Campaign of Deterrence” as New State Strategy against Unlawful Immigration
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2024
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced at a press conference held at the Martin and Kimberly Walls Ranch in Eagle Pass, Texas on Thursday, December 19, 2024 the State’s new strategy against unlawful immigration as being a campaign of “deterrence” and greater collaboration with the incoming President-elect Donald J. Trump’s Administration regarding the enforcement of immigration law, including the arrest, jailing, and deportation of undocumented immigrants.
Accompanying Governor Abbott at the press conference were Kimberly Walls, co-owner of the Walls Ranch, Texas Association Against Sexual Assault CEO Rose Luna, Texas Department of Border Czar Mike Banks, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Martin Freeman, and Texas Adjutant Major General Thomas Suelzer.
Abbott opened the press conference announcing the State launched a new campaign warning illegal immigrants the realities of the unlawful immigration trade in Texas such as the kidnapping of daughters and the raping of women and girls by “coyotes” and people involved in the illicit trade of human trafficking. Abbott cited the Walls Ranch in Eagle Pass as being one such place where its owners, Martin and Kimberly Walls, have found women and girls raped and killed underneath trees on the ranch property by “coyotes,” referred to as “rape trees” which are torn down and burned by its ranch owners.
Abbott announced Texas has placed many billboards along the Mexico-Texas border, from Matamoros to Juarez, and in Central America in several languages, including Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and Arabic, warning people seeking to immigrate unlawfully to the United States that if they cross through Texas they will be arrested, jailed, and deported, their women and girls may be raped and killed by the “coyotes,” and advising immigrants of the consequences if they choose to cross illegally through Texas.
When asked what was the State’s strategy against unlawful immigration, Abbott replied it was “deterrence” by advising the potential unlawful immigrants of the horrific realities and consequences of the illegal human trafficking trade, as well as greater collaboration with the incoming President Donald J. Trump Administration in all facets of enforcement of immigration law.
Abbott added the goal is to eliminate illegal immigration to Texas and the United States, and to allow only legal immigration to the United States.
Rose Luna, CEO of the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, noted that 2 of 5 women in Texas are sexually assaulted while 1 in 5 men are too. Luna stated her reason for being present at the press conference is to announce that there is a “largely unspoken sexual assault crisis impacting women and children migrating to the Texas border.” Luna added that “acknowledging this issue and its profound impact on survivor is not only crucial, but is our responsibility.” Luna applauded the State of Texas for recognizing the silent sexual assault crisis against immigrant women and girls at the border.
Kimberly Walls stated that last year her husband found many women and girls beaten and raped on their ranch property, found three undocumented immigrants murdered at their ranch, and her husband found three trees, referred as “rape trees,” on their property used to rape and beat women and girls, which he has had to tear down and burn.” Walls added one young girl was beaten and raped and left in front porch of their ranch house left to die. Walls testimony acknowledged the horrific consequences of unlawful immigration.
Abbott added that deportations will commence on day one of the Trump Administration and the massive expansion of border barriers, too.
Abbott stated that “family separations” are the choice of the family who are illegally in the United States, and not of the Trump Administration. Abbott added that the family will have to make the choice whether to be deported or remain separated after deportation. Abbott concluded that the new strategy is a “deterrent’ against people thinking about coming across the border illegally not to come by knowing what are the possibilities and realities of coming across, and that there will be consequences coming across through Texas.
