Texas governor launches new billboard campaign to deter illegal immigration

On December 22, 2024By Littum

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Texas Governor Greg Abbott has unveiled a new initiative aimed at curbing illegal immigration by installing billboards in Central America and Mexico.

The campaign seeks to deter migrants from crossing the US-Mexico border illegally by highlighting the dangers and consequences associated with such actions through a series of carefully worded billboards.

“These billboards, some of which you can see behind me, tell the horror stories of human trafficking,” Abbott said. “They say that many girls who try to migrate to Texas are kidnapped. Another sign says your wife and daughter will pay for their journey with their bodies.”

The initiative will see over 40 billboards placed in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico, particularly along Mexico’s northern border with Mexico, from Matamoros to Ciudad Juarez.

Abbott stressed that the billboards are intended to deter migrants from entering the United States illegally, particularly through Texas.

Some of the billboards display messages such as

Danger ahead. If you cross into Texas illegally, you will regret it forever.

Abbott described the campaign as “harsh medicine” and reiterated that the state would work with the Trump administration to fight illegal immigration.

“These billboards are in multiple languages, including Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Arabic,” Abbott said. “We built walls and barbed wire barriers and put in boots and container boxes. We’ve arrested thousands who got past those barriers. We will continue to aggressively arrest immigrants coming into Texas illegally.”

Abbott also noted that many of the billboards are aimed at preventing the sexual assault of migrants during their journey to the United States, a situation he described as appalling.

He expressed hope that such incidents would decrease with the incoming Trump administration and ensure that only legal immigration takes place.

Attached is the full press release (Abbott takes the mic after 11 minutes):

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