Abbott said Texas submitted documentation to the Homeland Security Department seeking repayment for costs tied to the border initiative, which he launched in March 2021. The operation has deployed Texas National Guard members and state troopers, built border barriers and used state resources to target illegal crossings, drug smuggling and other border-related crimes.

“For four years under Biden, Texas spent more than $10 billion of taxpayer money to secure the border,” Abbott said in a statement. “I have formally submitted Texas’ application to the Department of Homeland Security for reimbursement.”

The governor’s office said the reimbursement money was included in the federal law known as the One Big Beautiful Bill. The money is being administered through the Homeland Security Department and the Justice Department, and Abbott said Texas will also seek reimbursement from the Justice Department.

Operation Lone Star has been one of Abbott’s signature border policies and a frequent point of conflict with the Biden administration, which challenged some Texas border measures in court. Critics have also questioned the operation’s cost, legal footing and effect on migrants and border communities.

Abbott said he will work with Texas’ congressional delegation, President Donald Trump and federal agencies to recover the money. The governor’s office said Texas bore the largest share of state border security expenses eligible for reimbursement.

HOUSTON — Gov. Greg Abbott endorsed closed Republican primaries Friday, telling delegates at the Republican Party of Texas convention that only Republican-affiliated voters should participate in Republican primary elections.

“We’re going to make sure that only Republicans vote in Republican primaries,” Abbott said.

Abbott’s comments come after Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson announced she will resign effective July 17. Her office has been involved in an ongoing lawsuit with the Republican Party of Texas after declining to implement a party-backed closed-primary system.

The Texas GOP argues closed primaries are needed to prevent Democrats from influencing Republican contests. Attorney General Ken Paxton sided with the party, while Nelson’s office sought dismissal of the lawsuit.

Texas currently does not require voters to register by party. Voters may choose a Republican or Democratic primary ballot, though voting in one party’s primary limits them to that party’s runoff in the same election cycle.

Abbott had largely avoided the dispute until now. After his speech, he told Texas Scorecard he would prefer lawmakers handle the issue, saying, “Legislators can and should be more responsive to Republicans than a judge may be.”

Delegates are expected to finalize the Texas GOP’s legislative priorities before the convention ends Saturday.

The governor also used his convention speech to promote several priorities for the next legislative session, including property tax reform, tighter limits on local government spending, a lower appraisal cap, and a statewide prosecutor to pursue cases when local district attorneys decline to act.

Abbott also called for denying bail to people unlawfully in the country who are charged with felonies, codifying his freeze on new H-1B visa petitions by state agencies and public universities, and expanding that restriction to local governments.

He also urged lawmakers to pass a broader ban on Sharia law in Texas and give the attorney general more authority to enforce it.

John J. Gately
Republican Precinct Chair – Precinct 338
Williamson County Republican Party
Round Rock, Texas