Donald Trump wants Texans looking for a caravan in Chiapas. I’m looking at a state treasury account in Austin. The account Texas set up to receive federal reimbursement for Operation Lone Star showed $0 in revenue through October 31. I found no public confirmation of a November deposit. Texas Comptroller’s cash report for Fund 5207
Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, said on November 13 that no caravan was then heading for the U.S. border. She said 24 caravans had dispersed in southern Mexico since Trump returned to office. One recent group had already broken up. Another was gathering in Huixtla, Chiapas, roughly 1,800 miles from the U.S. border. EFE on Sheinbaum’s remarks · Reuters from Mexico
I watched a Univision reporter interview a man who said he was organizing the caravan so people could travel safely and that he planned to come with them. He was wearing a thick, gold-colored chain that looked like it could cost thousands if it was real. I told my wife what struck me. If you’re traveling through unsafe places with little protection, wearing something that looks that expensive can make you a target. That made me wonder what else there was to his story.
On November 12, Trump blamed the Republicans’ midterm losses for what he called an “invasion,” threatened to double tariffs on Mexico, and made a point of calling out our incoming governor, Gina Hinojosa. MAGA leaders know how to work the fright machine. This time Trump got to put a governor-elect on the defensive and give his followers an invasion to talk about while Texans were still waiting for a deposit date. Trump’s remarks · Reuters on Trump’s tariff threat
Greg Abbott asked Washington to reimburse Texas for more than $11.1 billion in border spending. In September, Abbott put out a press release with the word “delivers” in the headline after the Department of Homeland Security approved about $7.5 billion. Three days later, the state comptroller said the money still hadn’t been transferred. Even if the entire $7.5 billion comes through, roughly $3.6 billion of what Abbott originally asked for would still be uncovered. Abbott’s original request · Abbott’s September announcement · The comptroller’s statement
Trump has a ballroom to build and plans for a 250-foot arch topped with gold statuary. His family’s crypto ventures have done well, too. Reuters estimated that they had made about $2.3 billion from crypto by the end of April. Maybe Abbott should have put a gold statue on the invoice. It might have gotten a render and a press conference. FactCheck.org on the ballroom · Federal planning commission on the arch · Reuters on the Trump family’s crypto profits
Hinojosa says she wants to see exactly what Abbott still has in place under Operation Lone Star. Good. Texans deserve to know what we paid for, what it accomplished, and what Washington has actually sent back. Trump has already told our new governor to look toward Mexico. She might start by asking him for a deposit date. Hinojosa’s interview with the Houston Chronicle
We need our Attorney General looking into suing the Federal Government for our $11.1. That could add at least another $500 to that $1,500 check Hinojosa has promised. I know how to spend my money better than the Federal or State Government.
