House Republicans are pushing for the federal government to reimburse Texas for its efforts to stem illegal immigration, saying the Biden administration has left border states to pick up the tab.
The Lone Star Reimbursement Act, introduced by Rep. Pat Fallon (R., Texas), would draw "$4.4 billion from the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security for FY 2024 for the state of Texas," Fox News reported. The funds would help cover the state's costs for Operation Lone Star, an independent effort to combat the border crisis, which Republicans attribute to President Joe Biden's failed immigration policies.
The proposed bill notes that "Operation Lone Star has led to over 348,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 24,000 criminal arrests, with more than 22,000 felony charges reported."
"Texas has been forced by this administration to go it alone when it comes to securing our border," Fallon said in a statement. "Operation Lone Star has been a critical tool in stemming the tide of illegal immigration, but we cannot do it by ourselves."
The bill comes as GOP lawmakers have called for the impeachment of Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, citing the influx of illegal immigrants under his supervision.
In response to the criticism of the border crisis, Biden reproached Republicans in a January statement, saying the lawmakers should support his "comprehensive immigration reform."
Funding for Operation Lone Star went toward increased border patrol and construction of a border wall.