recently passed budget reconciliation bill includes a major financial boost for states that invested heavily in border security during President Joe Biden’s administration. The legislation, passed by Congress on July 3, authorizes up to $13.5 billion in reimbursements, including $10 billion through a newly created State Border Security Reinforcement Fund.
While the bill does not explicitly mention Texas, the funding provision is widely seen as a response to Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s persistent lobbying efforts. Abbott, along with Republican Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, advocated for federal reimbursement of the state’s extensive border operations.
“Under Operation Lone Star, Texas allocated more than $11 billion of taxpayer money for border security,” Abbott said in a statement from May. “Earlier this year, I requested Congress reimburse Texas for these costs in full.”
The new fund will issue grants to states that have independently financed border barriers or enforcement measures since January 20, 2021—the day President Biden took office.
Texas: The Largest Spender on Border Security
No state has spent more than Texas on border operations during the Biden presidency. Through Operation Lone Star, the state:
- Deployed thousands of Texas National Guard troops,
- Installed controversial buoy barriers in the Rio Grande, and
- Bused over 100,000 migrants to Democrat-led cities across the country.
The operation has been central to Abbott’s ongoing criticism of Biden’s immigration policies, particularly during a period when the U.S. Border Patrol recorded over 2 million migrant encounters per year, many involving lawful asylum-seekers.
Other States May Qualify, But Likely in Smaller Amounts
Though the reinforcement fund is open to any state that incurred qualifying expenses, only a few are likely to benefit. Arizona, under former Governor Doug Ducey, attempted to construct a border barrier using old shipping containers. However, legal challenges forced the dismantling of that barrier. Ducey’s successor, Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs, has requested $513 million in federal reimbursement for Arizona’s border-related spending.
“The reinforcement provision just says ‘states can apply,’ but what states really incurred significant expenses? Texas and Arizona,” said Adam Isacson, director of defense oversight at the Washington Office on Latin America.
Additional $3.5 Billion in “BIDEN” Fund
The bill also establishes an additional $3.5 billion under a new fund titled BIDEN – short for Bridging Immigration-related Deficits Experienced Nationwide. These funds can be distributed to states that assist the federal government in enforcing immigration policies.
When asked about how much funding Texas intends to request, Abbott’s Press Secretary Andrew Mahaleris declined to provide specifics but confirmed that the governor would continue to “work closely with the Trump administration to secure the border.”
Conclusion
With Texas poised to be the biggest beneficiary of this $13.5 billion package, the budget bill represents a major victory for state-level immigration enforcement advocates and could reshape how federal and state governments share responsibility for border security in the coming years.
