TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-Tyler) is joining other lawmakers in calling for Texas to be reimbursed for immigration-related costs incurred during the Biden administration.
From the $13.5 billion set aside due to the One Big Beautiful Bill, Moran said roughly $11 billion should be given to Texas “as soon as possible.”
“It’s the right thing to do by the Texas Taxpayers,” Moran said. “We were actually funding the defense of the entire nation by trying to prevent more illegal immigration coming across during the Biden administration.”
During the Biden administration, migrant encounters hit record highs, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Other lawmakers have signed onto a letter calling for Texas to be reimbursed, including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).
“It’s important to continue to have that drip campaign with the White House to remind them of what actually occurred, that that money is sitting there, and that Texas needs $11.1 billion to reimburse it for actual costs for securing our southern border,” added Moran.
Smith County Democratic Party Chair Cam Ray said reimbursing Texas would set a bad precedent.
“There’s been no oversight into the Operation Lone Star Program, and we need the receipts,” Ray said. “Texas made a unilateral decision and as much as I hate that this comes from our taxpayers’ pockets, including mine, it isn’t realistic to just make the decision that you want to go to the government now, especially when if you’re looking at the total reimbursement from the government, they’re talking about $13.5 billion, and Texas has spent $11 billion. So, really, that’s reimbursing the whole fund directly to Texas. That makes no sense.”
Moran mentioned that state lawmakers would determine how to use the reimbursed funds.
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