On Wednesday, Reps. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Mike Gallagher (R-WI) sent a letter to Dr. David Christian Hassell with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response inquiring
Abbott instructed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to close all federally contracted detention facilities holding illegal migrants, including facilities that house unaccompanied children. Counties may designate alternative facilities to detain illegal migrants or expand capacity as they see fit, with a waiver from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
“By declaring a state of disaster in these counties, Texas will have more resources and strategies at our disposal to protect landowners and enforce all federal and state laws to combat criminal activities stemming from the border crisis,” Abbott said in his press release. “Working together with local law enforcement, the state will continue to take robust and meaningful action to keep our communities safe.”
The American convicted of espionage by a Russia in June 2020 urged President Joe Biden to take action to free him and other political prisoners, CNN reported.