Despite a significant decrease in illegal migrant crossings across the border between Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced, through his official website, an increased presence of the United States National Guard, which is reinforcing the border with barbed wire along the banks of the Rio Grande.
Amerika García, a migrant rights activist in Maverick County, said that the policies imposed by the Donald Trump administration have slowed migrants somewhat; however, she mentioned that the wire barrier is an unnecessary expense.
Cost of Reinforced Security Measures Analyzed
“While recent data indicates a decrease in migrant border crossings, this has been a trend significantly driven by Mexico’s increased security measures, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s decision to deploy additional barbed wire and National Guard personnel.”
For the Texas activist, Texas authorities have not disclosed the cost not only of acquiring the massive deployment of barbed wire, but also of maintaining U.S. National Guard troops who remain on constant watch day and night in the border area between Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras.
“It is important to note that Texas National Guard allocations for hazard pay and the procurement of barbed wire under emergency disaster policies circumvent standard oversight protocols, accelerating wasteful spending without rigorous verification. This approach risks diverting resources from urgent regional needs, such as access to healthcare, infrastructure resilience, and climate adaptation in the Rio Grande Valley—communities disproportionately affected by underinvestment, among others.”
Spending Seems to Justify “Political Theater”
Amerika García believes that the Texas government has not stopped at erecting a barrier, whether with barbed wire, a wall, or even metal containers, to inhibit the crossing of migrants. However, these people will always look for other ways to cross and achieve the famous American dream.
“Rather than militarizing a stabilized border, it would be better to use this money for strategic reinvestment in hospitals, roads, and flood mitigation. This would address systemic vulnerabilities while fostering long-term stability. The current strategy seems to focus less on security and more on political theater, leveraging crisis narratives to justify unnecessary spending.”
Source: milenio
