Meanwhile, border authorities have begun to transport migrants across the state.
A consequent breach over the security of COVID-19 for migrants persisted between the Biden administration and the state of Texas, as an increasing number of families attempt to cross the southern border and remain in the United States.
Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott has postponed Federal Emergency Management Agency funding to test and possibly quarantine migrant families, according to a Department of Homeland Security spokesman. The decision goes against agreements made between DHS and the mayors and local health officials, which stipulated that 100% of the COVID-19 tests would be covered.
Renae Eze, the governor’s press secretary, suggested that there were “restrictions” on funding that required further efforts by the state to conduct border security.
“The federal government alone has a responsibility to test, examine and quarantine illegal immigrants who cross our border and who may have COVID,” said Eze in a statement. “The Biden administration continues to put pressure on Texas to help them help their illegal immigration program … We are focused on doing our job – protecting Texans.”
A record increase in migrant families on the southern border continues to challenge the Biden administration, as officials say they are implementing more humane policies than their predecessors.
Nearly 20,000 family members were detained at the border last month, according to US Customs and Border Protection. Although many were removed immediately, most of them underwent immigration processing in the U.S.
The influx is particularly severe in the Rio Grande Valley region of southern Texas. Immigration authorities there have appealed to migrants by plane to other parts of the state, including Laredo, Del Rio and El Paso, according to the CBP.
New arrivals, combined with a lack of funding to test and, if necessary, isolate migrants due to COVID-19, is the main concern of Rep. Verônica Escobar of Texas, Texas.
“He not only rejected the funding, but then came back and went to Fox News and other cable networks and said that immigrants are bringing diseases like COVID to our country – fueling racism, xenophobia, using the type of language that we know only too well is dangerous and has many consequences, “said Escobar.
Abbott directly blamed the Biden government for the situation at the border.
“The Biden government has created a crisis on our southern border through open border policies that give the green light to dangerous cartels and other criminal activities,” the governor told a news conference earlier this week. “Border security is the responsibility of the federal government, but the state of Texas will not allow government failures to endanger the lives of innocent Texans.”
There is currently no evidence that migrants at the border are significant vectors for the new coronavirus, according to an analysis by The Associated Press.
Abbott did not respond to a request for comment from ABC News about funding delays. CNN first reported the news.
A senior official who declined to be appointed to discuss procedures and planning said on Friday that the Biden government is trying to circumvent the governor and work directly with municipalities.
“It has been more difficult because of the inability – or unwillingness – of the state of Texas to cooperate with us,” said the official.