Texas launches billboard campaign in Mexico and Central America to deter illegal immigration

Record ID: 1891515

  • Title: Texas launches billboard campaign in Mexico and Central America to deter illegal immigration
  • Date: 19th December 2024
  • Summary: EAGLE PASS, TEXAS, UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 19, 2024) (Reuters) TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT APPROACHING LECTERN (SOUNDBITE) (English) TEXAS GOVERNOR, GREG ABBOTT, ON NEW BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN, SAYING: "We are launching a new campaign to deter illegal immigration into Texas. Yesterday, we began putting up billboards, dozens of billboards in Central America and in Mexico. They inform potential illegal immigrants about the reality of what will happen to them if they try to enter Texas illegally." BILLBOARDS FROM THE NEW CAMPAIGN BILLBOARD THAT READS, (Spanish): 'How much did you pay to have your daughter raped?' (SOUNDBITE) (English) TEXAS GOVERNOR, GREG ABBOTT, SPEAKING ABOUT THE LOCATION WHERE HE AND THE FAMILY WHO OWN THE RANCH CLAIM CRIMES HAVE OCCURRED, SAYING: "We gather in areas where they have burned down trees like the ashes that we see here. The ashes we see here are from trees they burned down, trees where migrant women were being sexually assaulted by Coyotes, gangs and human traffickers. They are known as 'rape trees'." VARIOUS AERIALS OF WALL RANCH, WHERE ABBOTT HELD THE PRESS CONFERENCE (MUTE) ASHES FROM A BURNED DOWN TREE AND THE AREA SURROUNDING IT (SOUNDBITE) (English) TEXAS GOVERNOR, GREG ABBOTT, SAYING: "The new plan is a deterrent to people who may be on their way to come across the border. Listen, there have been many stories and things that we're monitoring, where in the last month before Donald Trump becomes the president, there are many people who may make a last gasp effort to try to cross the border. And our goal right now, immediately, is not only to discourage them from coming, but to help them understand the consequences when they come. The consequences are, the people coming here, they could be raped. They could be assaulted. They could be killed. But the consequences also are if they do make it across, they will be arrested. They will be jailed, and they will be deported." VARIOUS OF BILLBOARDS ABBOTT DEPARTING
  • Embargoed: 2nd January 2025 22:03
  • Keywords: BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN BORDER BORDER POLICY GOVERNOR ABBOTT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IMMIGRATION TEXAS TOM HOMAN
  • Location: EAGLE PASS, TEXAS, UNITED STATES
  • City: EAGLE PASS, TEXAS, UNITED STATES
  • Country: US
  • Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,North America,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001844719122024RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Texas is launching a visceral billboard campaign in Mexico and Central America to deter illegal immigration by highlighting sexual assault and other dangers, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said on Thursday (December 19), the Republican's latest move to stem crossings.
    "How much did you pay to have your daughter raped," one of the signs read. Another warned that migrants will be arrested if they enter Texas illegally.
    "Our goal right now, immediately, is not only to discourage them from coming, but to help them understand the consequences," Abbott said.
    The number of migrants caught illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border soared to record highs after President Joe Biden took office in 2021, fueling criticism by Abbott and other Republicans.
    President-elect Donald Trump recaptured the White House in November pledging mass deportations and aggressive border security efforts.
    Biden toughened his border policies earlier this year, leading to a steep drop in migrants caught crossing illegally in recent months.
    Abbott said the billboard campaign costs about $100,000 and aims to turn back migrants thinking of crossing illegally before Trump takes office on Jan. 20.
    "There are many people who may make a last-gasp effort," Abbott said.
    Texas officials said in November that the state would offer 1,400 acres (567 hectares) of land near the border to the incoming Trump administration for its mass deportation initiative.
    (Production: Evan Garcia, Jackie Luna, Ted Hessen)
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