AUSTIN, Texas - Gov. Greg Abbott has issued an executive order restricting the ground transportation of migrants due to COVID-19.
Abbott's order directs the Texas Department of Public Safety to stop any vehicle upon reasonable suspicion of such violation and reroute those vehicles back to their point of origin or a port of entry.
"The dramatic rise in unlawful border crossings has also led to a dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases among unlawful migrants who have made their way into our state, and we must do more to protect Texans from this virus and reduce the burden on our communities," said Abbott in a statement. "This Executive Order will reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure in our communities."
This browser does not support the Video element.
FOX 7 Discussion: Governor Abbott, Trump visit the border wall
Travis County GOP Executive Director Brian Rudell and Tricia Cortez with the No Border Wall Coalition join Mike Warren to talk about Abbott and Trump's visit to the border.
DPS also now has the authority to impound a vehicle that violates the order.
The order claims that recent reports show U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recently seen a 900 percent increase in the number of migrant detainees who tested positive for COVID-19 in the Rio Grande Valley and that busloads of migrants. an unknown number of whom are infected with COVID-19, are being transported to Texas communities.
READ THE FULL EXECUTIVE ORDER HERE
___
MORE HEADLINES:
Abbott orders Texas National Guard to assist with border arrests
Texas begins jailing border crossers on trespassing charges
Can Greg Abbott actually build Trump's border wall?
Texas Land Commissioner sues Biden Administration over border wall
___
DOWNLOAD: FOX 7 AUSTIN NEWS APP
SUBSCRIBE: Daily Newsletter | YouTube
FOLLOW: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter