Trump says he will enforce Texas border policy if Hinojosa does not
The President warned the incoming governor that federal forces may step in if state cooperation with his immigration strategy fades after the midterms.
By Jessica Abebe ·
President Donald Trump declared on Thursday that the federal government will maintain its current border security stance in Texas regardless of the state’s new political leadership.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office days after the midterm elections, Trump addressed the upcoming transition of power in the state. He stated that he believes the incoming administration will want to keep the Texas border secure. When asked if he would increase the federal presence if the new governor pulled state personnel off border duties, Trump confirmed he would.
The President made his position clear with a direct threat. "And I’m sure they will continue my policy. And if they don’t, I’ll do it," he said. This remark signals a potential immediate clash between Washington and the state capital in Austin.
The comments target Gina Hinojosa, who secured a historic victory by defeating Republican incumbent Greg Abbott. Hinojosa will become the first Latina woman to serve as governor of Texas and the first Democrat to hold the office since 1995. Her election ends a decade of consecutive conservative control of the state.
Hinojosa has not indicated that she intends to abandon border security. In a previous interview with CNN, she stated, "We need secure borders, absolutely, but chasing working people who have been in our communities for a long time doesn't make us safer." This distinction separates her platform from her predecessor’s approach, which she views as overly aggressive toward long-term residents.
A central point of contention is Operation Lone Star, a massive program launched under Abbott. The initiative deployed National Guard troops, state police, and billions of dollars in public funds to stop illegal crossings, make arrests, and build barriers along the Mexican border. Hinojosa has criticized the program, calling it a political spectacle in an interview with KRGV-TV. She argued that public safety should not be used as a tool for propaganda.
The incoming governor also voiced concerns about the human cost of Abbott’s policies. During her campaign, she accused the outgoing administration of turning Texas into a base for operations that she said terrified immigrant families. "Texas is the only state that holds small children and their parents because Greg Abbott made it possible," she wrote in a campaign statement. She also cited dangerous conditions in detention facilities and risks to U.S. citizens during federal enforcement actions.
The financial implications of this dispute are substantial. Operation Lone Star has consumed billions of dollars in state resources. Its future will depend on the decisions made by the state legislature as it reviews the budget. Hinojosa has pledged to audit the program’s operations and question the spending on immigration enforcement versus community safety needs.
Hinojosa is scheduled to take office in January 2027. She will assume control of the state government while Trump remains in the White House. The President’s remarks suggest he is prepared to use federal authority to sustain his immigration strategy if state-level cooperation wanes.
The two leaders will soon negotiate the scope of federal and state roles on the border. Trump’s statement serves as a preemptive move, asserting federal dominance in a region that has become a key battleground for immigration policy.
