EDINBURG — A fiery, finger-pointing exchange between Gov. Greg Abbott and challenger Beto O’Rourke took place in a gubernatorial debate here in the Rio Grande Valley on Friday, but the only time the region was mentioned during the debate was when border security was discussed.
Held at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, the debate was not open to the public and it was unclear why the Valley was chosen — decisions made by the Abbott campaign, according to O’Rourke. Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa said they were given a “take it or leave it” offer from the Abbott campaign and were unable to tweak the conditions.
Immigration was predictably the first topic addressed at the top of the debate by KXAN anchor Sally Hernandez who served as moderator and asked the first question.
“Immigration issues are especially relevant here in the Rio Grande Valley. For years, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has ranked it as the number one area for migrants crossing illegally along the entire southwestern border,” Hernandez said.
While the Valley has led in the number of apprehensions for over a decade, the trend was broken this year when more migrants crossed through Del Rio than the Valley.
“Many communities here have suffered enormous monetary costs. What would you do to alleviate the financial burden on these communities?” Hernandez asked Abbott.
The governor talked about taking on border security as a response to the “disaster caused by the Biden administration.” Abbott hinted at his program, Operation Lone Star, during his answer.
“Texas has responded by making sure we have the National Guard and DPS deployed where they’re making arrests and turning back illegal immigrants,” the governor said.
When Operation Lone Star began in the Valley last year, a time when apprehensions were about to hit an all-time high locally, the governor said it would help communities by surging law enforcement to the area.
But at the same time the program was kicked off, organizations assisting migrants released by Border Patrol and awaiting federal reimbursements via FEMA funds saw the funding stalled as a direct result of Abbott’s efforts.
“They can provide that funding and equipment directly to ICE, and it’s ICE that administers those tests while the people who are here illegally are in holding,” Abbott said at the time.
Nearly $4 billion dollars have already been used for Operation Lone Star, an amount that captured some attention during the debate. Hernandez asked Abbott how much more taxpayer money should be set aside for the program.
“Zero dollars should be going to Operation Lone Star and that’s what it would be if we had a president enforcing the immigration laws of the United States of America,” Abbott said.
Biden called Operation Lone Star “political theater” before he was asked about something he said at a March rally in College Station. A clip was played where O’Rourke was heard saying, “Guard members from Texas A&M who are on the border right now, in Zapata, in Webb, in Hidalgo Counties, to go be part of a solution in search of a problem.”
However, recently, moderators pointed out, O’Rourke said during an interview by the Houston Chronicle that he would put troops on the ground if he became governor.
O’Rourke raised concern over guard members who died on the mission, either by injury or suicide, and instead proposed a “strategic deployment on a voluntary basis for guard members” he said, adding, “where we can partner with local sheriffs, DPS troopers, let’s do that.”
Abbott carried on criticizing the Biden administration and linking O’Rourke to its perceived failures at the border, while O’Rourke reminded voters that problems raised during the debate happened during Abbott’s watch.
O’Rourke said during closing remarks that Abbott was unwilling or incapable of making changes to better Texans’ futures.
In his closing, Abbott evoked former President Trump by making a remark similar to the “Make America great again” phrase.
Abbott emphasized Texas’s ranking in “so many categories” like most jobs added since his reelection, blue ribbon schools and tier-one universities.
“Together, we will keep Texas number one,” Abbott said.
