$12 Billion in Border Reimbursement Passes House

May 23, 2025 – Governor Greg Abbott today expressed his gratitude to the United States House of Representatives for including $12 billion in President Donald J. Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” to reimburse states for expenses incurred while addressing the ongoing border crisis. The funding is intended to compensate states like Texas that have invested significant resources in securing the southern border amid what Abbott and other GOP leaders have described as a failure of federal enforcement under former President Joe Biden.

“Former President Biden’s reckless open border policies left Texas and the rest of America defenseless against an unprecedented surge of illegal immigration, requiring Texas to hold the line,” said Governor Abbott.

Abbott praised the bill as a bold step in recognizing the financial and operational burden that states have shouldered. “Texas has spent billions protecting our communities because the Biden administration abandoned its constitutional duty to secure the border,” Abbott said. “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and the action of the House, we’re finally seeing support for states that stood in the gap.”

The $12 billion allocation is part of a broader legislative package aimed at restoring border security, increasing law enforcement funding, and expanding immigration enforcement efforts nationwide. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. Abbott urged swift passage, emphasizing that reimbursement is not only about fairness but about enabling continued efforts to combat illegal immigration and drug trafficking at the state level.