U.S. Customs and Border Protection statistics on illegal crossings

Texas Governor Abbott Launches $100,000 Billboard Campaign in Mexico and Central America to Deter Illegal Migrants

Dec 19, 2024, 09:30 PM

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has launched a new billboard campaign aimed at deterring migrants from attempting to cross into the U.S. illegally. The campaign, which began on Wednesday and costs an estimated $100,000, features billboards placed in Mexico and Central America along major migrant routes. These billboards convey stark warnings about the dangers of illegal immigration, including the risks of incarceration and sexual assault. Messages on the billboards include phrases like 'How much did you pay to have your daughter raped?' and 'Your wife and daughter will pay for their trip with their bodies.' The campaign targets potential migrants from Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, and the billboards are displayed in multiple languages such as Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and Arabic. This initiative is part of broader efforts under Abbott's Operation Lone Star, which has already cost taxpayers $11 billion and includes measures like deploying National Guard soldiers and state troopers to the border, as well as constructing physical barriers along the Rio Grande.