Governor Abbott Announces Additional Grant Funding For Border Security Operations In Texas
Governor Greg Abbott today announced $9 million in additional Operation Stonegarden Grant Program (OPSG) funding to increase operational capabilities of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies along the border. This announcement follows a previous release of $4 million in grant funding as part of the $30 million in Operations Orders approved by the U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the current year’s grant program.
"Texas' border security efforts require a variety of strategies and approaches to keep our communities safe, and these additional grants will provide much-needed resources to law enforcement agencies to maintain their robust operations," said Governor Abbott. "I am committed to working alongside the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to secure our southern border, and I thank the men and women of law enforcement for working tirelessly to keep our border communities secure."
These OPSG awards include funds for the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Kickapoo Traditional Tribe, and 16 other local law enforcement agencies located in the counties of Cameron, Kenedy, McMullen, Presidio, Starr, Sutton, Val Verde, and Webb. The awards will support:
- Upgrades to essential flight displays, global positioning systems, and overtime for DPS personnel supporting United States Border Patrol (USBP) with air patrols in each BP Sector along the Texas/Mexico border
- Body armor and overtime for Town of Laguna Vista officers participating in border patrol operations
- Specialized patrol vehicles for officers and deputies working overtime from the City of Falfurrias, City of Laredo, McMullen, Refugio, and Starr counties, as well as the Kickapoo Tribe
- Overtime and other operational costs for local agencies such as the counties listed above and the cities of Eagle Pass, Harlingen, Junction, and Town of Combes
OPSG promotes a layered and coordinated approach to border security by directing critical resources to fund additional overtime for law enforcement personnel, equipment, and related operational costs. These funds ensure that law enforcement partners are equipped with the resources they need to confront the complex and dynamic challenges that exist along the Texas border.
Through the OPSG, eligible local units of government and federally recognized tribal governments work in coordination with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and USBP to develop Operations Orders that support border security needs identified by each USBP Sector. Once all federal reviews of planned Operations are complete, Texas is able to obligate the funds to participating law enforcement agencies.
The Homeland Security Grants Division (HSGD), a subset of the Governor’s Public Safety Office (PSO), is responsible for administering OPSG funding as part of the larger Homeland Security Grant Program from DHS/FEMA. Local units of government along the southern border that are interested in learning more about this program should contact one of the five (5) USBP Sectors consisting of Big Bend, Del Rio, El Paso, Laredo and Rio Grande Valley, or the PSO at 512-463-1919.