Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced the launching of a billboard campaign aimed at discouraging migrants from attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border unlawfully.
It is the most recent endeavor of his Operation Lone Star, through which Abbott himself claims "Texas has arrested 49,400+ criminals, issued 42,500+ felony charges, and seized over HALF A BILLION deadly fentanyl doses."
The new initiative, unveiled during a press conference at a ranch near Eagle Pass, Texas, focuses on highlighting the dangers faced by migrants at the border through over 40 billboards placed throughout Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, as well as the Texas-Mexico border.
The billboards warn potential migrants of the risks of human trafficking and sexual violence, including the use of "rape trees" by smugglers as symbols of abuse. To reach a diverse audience, messages have been translated into Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian. The name of the campaign is "Horrific Realities."
Today in Eagle Pass, I unveiled Texas’ new billboard campaign in Central America and Mexico to deter illegal immigration into Texas.
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) December 19, 2024
The billboards are to dissuade migrants from making the dangerous journey to illegally cross the border.
More: https://t.co/TGAmIOztRK pic.twitter.com/cUrzbYFtUr
Abbott explained in a statement on the Governor's official website that the campaign seeks to deter migrants before they embark on the perilous journey:
"They give potential illegal immigrants thinking of leaving their home country – and those already on the way – a realistic picture of what will happen to them on their journey or if they illegally cross into Texas. These billboards tell the horror stories of human trafficking. They implore those people in Central America to consider the violent, horrific realities of what will happen to the women and children they bring with them"
He also added that the new effort is about "stopping their journey from even beginning in the first place" before saying the solution is only meant to work "until President Donald Trump is back in the White House to secure our border once again."
During the press event, Abbott stood near a burned-down tree identified as a site of sexual assault and underscored the gravity of the situation, according to Border Report. Rancher Kimberly Wall, whose property was impacted, described discovering multiple such trees and expressed fear for her safety.
The initiative follows other state-funded border security measures, such as deploying law enforcement and constructing state-funded border walls. Abbott reaffirmed his commitment to securing the border and expressed hope for renewed federal efforts under a future administration.
The campaign has drawn attention for its graphic messaging, with one billboard warning that migrants' family members could be exploited or harmed during the journey. Abbott emphasized the necessity of tough measures to prevent these tragedies, stating, "We must address these horrific realities head-on."
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