Meanwhile, border officials have begun flying migrants across the state.
A consequent breach of COVID-19 security for migrants has persisted between the Biden administration and the state of Texas as a growing number of families attempt to cross the southern border and remain in the United States.
Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has delayed funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to try and possibly quarantine migrant families, according to a Department of Homeland Security spokesman. The decision goes ahead of the agreements made between DHS and local mayors and health officials, which stipulated that 100% of COVID-19 testing would be covered.
Renae Eze, the governor’s press secretary, suggested there were “ropes” to funding that required new state efforts to carry out border security.
“The federal government has only the responsibility to test, examine and quarantine illegal immigrants who cross our border and may have COVID,” Eze said in a statement. “The Biden Administration continues to pressure 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.
About 20,000 family members were detained at the border last month, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Although many were removed immediately, most of them have been the subject of immigration proceedings in the US
The influx is particularly severe in the Rio Grande Valley region of South Texas. Immigration officials there have turned to flying migrants in other parts of the state, including Laredo, Del Rio and El Paso, according to CBP.
New arrivals combined with a lack of funding to test and, if necessary, isolate migrants due to COVID-19 is a major concern for Texas Representative Veronica Escobar, D-Texas.
“Not only did he turn down that funding, but he turned around Fox News and other cable networks and said immigrants bring diseases like COVID to our country, fueling racism and xenophobia, using the kind of language that we just know, too well is dangerous and very consistent, “Escobar said.
Abbott has blamed the situation on the border directly on the Biden administration.
“The Biden administration 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 said at a news conference earlier this week. “Border security is the responsibility of the federal government, but the state of Texas will not allow the administration’s failures to endanger the lives of innocent jeans.”
There is currently no evidence that migrants at the border are significant vectors of the new coronavirus, according to an analysis by The Associated Press.
Abbott did not respond to a request for comment from ABC News on funding delays. CNN first reported the news.
A senior official who refused to be appointed to discuss procedures and planning said on Friday that the Biden administration is trying to turn around 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,” the official said.