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Orientation Day For Fort Bend County Summer Youth Employment Program Participants

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Orientation Day For Fort Bend County Summer Youth Employment Program Participants

To Provide Needed Support for Backlog Due to the Pandemic

Today marks the first day of the Fort Bend County Summer Youth Employment Program (YEP). Nearly 150 youth and young adults participated in the County’s Orientation Services held at the Fort Bend County Justice Center, 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, this morning starting at 8:00 a.m.

The Fort Bend County Summer YEP provides quality summer experiences that build a pipeline to career opportunities for local youth ages 16-21. A primary goal of the summer employment program is to allow participants to earn while they learn and to expose them to careers of interest with the intention of creating a career-ready workforce.

Participants will have the opportunity to work side-by-side with professionals within a variety of County Departments and city governments and have the valuable opportunity to obtain exclusive job training and job skills that will benefit them academically and professionally.

“Having employability skills is important to being competitive in today’s job market, and providing our youth and young adults this opportunity is preparing them for success in their future pursuits. Participants will gain relevant government agency knowledge, skills, and work experience that will help them in the future,” said Fort Bend County Judge KP George.

Participating departments include Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, Behavioral Health Services, Commissioner Offices, Constable Offices, County Clerk, County Judge, Engineering, District Attorney, Human Resources, Fire Marshal, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security & Emergency Management, Information Technologies, and more. In addition, local cities including the City of Katy are joining the program to receive needed support.

One million in funding provided by the COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for the Summer Youth Employment Program was approved by Fort Bend County Commissioners on June 1 to provide needed support for backlog due to the Pandemic.  Workers will be paid up to $15.00 per hour and can work up to 40 hours per week.

The Summer Youth Employment Program application posting was open from June 1 thru June 9, with a total number of 995 applications.

District Clerk Marilyn Burgess

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District Clerk Marilyn Burgess

District Clerk Marilyn Burgess speaks about our passport fair this past Saturday, June 12th. In this video, Ms. Burgess also talks about new measures to make jury duty more comfortable for Harris County residents.

Judge rules in favor of Houston Methodist in lawsuit over COVID-19 vaccines

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Judge rules in favor of Houston Methodist in lawsuit over COVID-19 vaccines

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit Saturday from a group of Houston Methodist employees opposing the hospital’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

117 employees sued the hospital over its policy requiring staff to get the vaccine or be fired.

“This is not coercion. Methodist is trying to do their business of saving lives without giving them the COVID-19 virus. It is a choice made to keep staff, patients, and their families safer,” said U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes.

The judge also denied a request for a restraining order to block Houston Methodist from suspending the unvaccinated employees.

The hospital’s vaccine deadline was last week, and more than 170 employees were suspended without pay for the next 14 days after not complying with the vaccine requirement.

“In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs falsely claimed that the COVID-19 vaccines are not safe. With more than 300 million doses administered in the United States alone, the vaccines have proven to be extremely safe. The number of both positive cases and hospitalizations continues to drop around the country, proving that the vaccines are working in keeping our community protected,” Houston Methodist wrote in a statement.

Jared Woodfill, the lawyer represent the Houston Methodist employees, said they will appeal.

All of my clients continue to be committed to fighting this unjust policy,” Woodfill said in a written statement. “What is shocking is that many of my clients were on the front line treating COVID-positive patients at Texas Methodist Hospital during the height of the pandemic. As a result, many of them contracted COVID-19. As a thank you for their service and sacrifice, Methodist Hospital awards them a pink slip and sentences them to bankruptcy.”

Here is the full statement by Woodfill:

This is just one battle in a larger war to protect the rights of employees to be free from being forced to participate in a vaccine trial as a condition for employment. Employment should not be conditioned upon whether you will agree to serve as a human guinea pig.

We will be appealing this case to the United States Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court if necessary. Additionally, we will be seeking a ruling from the Texas Supreme Court in a similar case.  All of my clients continue to be committed to fighting this unjust policy.

What is shocking is that many of my clients were on the front line treating Covid positive patients at Texas Methodist Hospital during the height of the pandemic. As a result, many of them contracted COVID-19.

As a thank you for their service and sacrifice, Methodist Hospital awards them a pink slip and sentences them to bankruptcy.

If this ruling is allowed to stand, employers across the country will be able to force their employees to participate in a vaccine trial as a condition for employment. This legal battle has only just begun.

Ultimately, I believe Methodist Hospital will be held accountable for its conduct. Sometimes the wheels of justice move slower than we like.

Here is the full statement from Houston Methodist:

Houston Methodist is pleased and reassured after U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes today dismissed a frivolous lawsuit filed by some employees who fought our COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Judge Hughes wrote in his order:

“This is not coercion. Methodist is trying to do their business of saving lives without giving them the COVID-19 virus. It is a choice made to keep staff, patients, and their families safer.”

Also recently, Judge Hughes denied the plaintiffs’ request for a temporary restraining order to block Houston Methodist from suspending them. The vaccine deadline passed this week and 24,947 Houston Methodist employees have now met the vaccine requirements.

In the temporary restraining order, Judge Hughes wrote:

“The public’s interest in having a hospital capable of caring for patients during a pandemic far outweighs protecting the vaccination preferences of 116 employees. The plaintiffs are not just jeopardizing their own health; they are jeopardizing the health of doctors, nurses, support staff, patients, and their families.”

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs falsely claimed that the COVID-19 vaccines are not safe. With more than 300 million doses administered in the United States alone, the vaccines have proven to be extremely safe. The number of both positive cases and hospitalizations continues to drop around the country, proving that the vaccines are working in keeping our community protected.

Dr. Marc Boom, president, and CEO of Houston Methodist said:

“We can now put this behind us and continue our focus on unparalleled safety, quality, service, and innovation. All our employees have now met the requirements of the vaccine policy and I couldn’t be prouder of them. Our employees and physicians made their decisions for our patients, who are always at the center of everything we do. They have fulfilled their sacred obligation as health care workers, and we couldn’t ask for a more dedicated, caring, and talented team.”

Source: www.click2houston.com

The ACT Accelerator partnership welcomes commitment of 870 million vaccine doses and calls for more investment in all tools to end the pandemic

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The ACT Accelerator partnership welcomes commitment of 870 million vaccine doses and calls for more investment in all tools to end the pandemic

At the close of this year’s G7 Leaders’ summit, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland announced a donation of an additional 870 million vaccine doses from attendees, with the majority to be delivered through COVAX, the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID 19 Tools Accelerator, within the next year. Attendees included heads of G7 Member States plus Australia, India, South Africa and Republic of Korea, invited as guests.

Leaders confirmed their support for all pillars of the ACT-Accelerator across treatments, tests and strengthening public health systems as well as vaccines (link to the communique). Additionally, they indicated their intention to work together with the private sector, the G20 and other countries to increase their vaccine contribution over the months to come. Since their G7 Early Leaders’ Summit in February 2021, the G7 has committed one billion doses in total.

Timing is key

WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, spoke to leaders at their meeting and urged “many other countries are now facing a surge in cases – and they are facing it without vaccines. We are in the race of our lives, but it’s not a fair race, and most countries have barely left the starting line. We welcome the generous announcements about donations of vaccines and thank leaders. But we need more, and we need them faster”.

Over US$ 16 billion is still needed this year to fully fund the work of ACT-Accelerator, the global partnership of leading international health organizations which is mid-way through its 2020-21 funding need. In additional to vital vaccine research and development and procurement work, ACT-Accelerator needs funds to strengthen health systems and protect health workers administering the tools needed to end the pandemic; tests to detect and contain hotspots, as well as identify new variants that will continue to appear; and treatments to save the lives of those who will continue to catch COVID-19 and suffer. There is an urgent need for treatments like oxygen which is seeing a surge in demand that is 5 times – and in cases such as India, 10 times – greater than the need before the pandemic.

The funding needed for the ACT-Accelerator will address challenges delivering products where they are most needed, help establish testing for 500 million people in low- and middle-income countries by mid-2021 and help secure the necessary supply of oxygen as well as distribute 165 million doses of treatments including dexamethasone which can save lives of people critically ill with COVID.

Carl Bildt, WHO Special Envoy for the ACT Accelerator, said: “We welcome these commitments but there is still a significant funding gap that must be closed if we are to get the urgently needed treatments, including oxygen, and tests, to low and lower-middle income countries so we aren’t flying blind to where the virus is and how it’s changing. The time to act is now. We look to the G7 and G20 to fund the work of the ACT Accelerator, the global multilateral solution that can speed up an end to the pandemic. The world needs their political leadership because left to rage anywhere, the virus will remain a threat everywhere.”

“This is an important moment of global solidarity and a critical milestone in the push to ensure those most at risk, everywhere are protected,” said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi). “As we strive towards or goal of ending the acute phase of the pandemic, we look forward to working with countries to ensure these doses pledged are quickly turned into doses delivered.”

Dr Philippe Duneton, Executive Director of UNITAID, said: “These commitments from G7 leaders are important and welcome. But it is crucial to remember that right now, COVID-19 patients around the world are dying and suffering due to a lack of oxygen, an essential medicine that is vital for the treatment of COVID-19. I would urge G7 leaders to act now to ensure that all pillars of the ACT-Accelerator are fully funded – including those focusing on treatments and tests. As recent events in India, Nepal and elsewhere have shown, we need more than vaccines to end this pandemic everywhere.”

Henrietta Fore, Executive Director of UNICEF, said: “The impact of the pandemic in its second year is already far worse than its first. We are seeing significant and devastating outbreaks all over the world – including south Asia, southern Africa and Latin America. We must continue to sound the alarm. The longer the virus continues to spread unchecked, the higher the risk of more deadly or contagious variants emerging. The clearest pathway out of this pandemic is a global, equitable distribution of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics, and the overall strengthening of health systems across the globe, because no one will be safe until we are all safe.”

Dr Emma Hannay, Chief Access Officer and ACT-Accelerator Lead for FIND, said: “We thank the G7 for their leadership and continuing drive to ensure R&D and equitable access to diagnostic testing, necessary both for the fight against COVID-19 and to lay the foundations that will prepare the world to guard against future pandemics.”

Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, said: “This is an historic moment – as leaders of some of the wealthiest counties come together to ensure that all parts of the world have access to life saving vaccines. This pandemic has shown us that we cannot set national against international interests. With a disease like COVID-19 we have to ensure that we get it under control everywhere.  There is still much to do to get vaccines in arms and ensure our research and development allows us to stay one step ahead of the virus. But for today we give pause and celebrate a watershed moment of political alignment and collaboration”.

Peter Sands, Executive Director of The Global Fund, said: “It is encouraging to see such global collaboration and commitments. However, none of the lifesaving tools to fight COVID-19 will deliver themselves. We need to make sure that health systems are prepared and that front-line health workers are sufficiently protected to deliver these tools without risking their own lives. This can only happen if the ACT-Accelerator is fully funded.”

Source: www.who.int

Free COVID-19 Vaccinations Available At 27 Houston Health Department-Affiliated Sites Week Of June 14, 2021

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Free COVID-19 Vaccinations Available At 27 Houston Health Department-Affiliated Sites Week Of June 14, 2021

The Houston Health Department is announcing the schedule for sites offering free first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine during the week of June 14, 2021. Twenty-seven health department-affiliated free vaccination sites are on the schedule for the week.

The sites are available for walk-ins and appointments. Vaccination does not require proof of residency, citizenship, or insurance.

Pop-up Sites

The department and its partner agencies will offer vaccinations at 15 pop-up sites during the week, located at:

  • Hobby Airport (Next to Delta check-in), 7800 Airport Blvd.
    • June 15-16, 2021, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    • Moderna (age 18+) and Johnson & Johnson (age 18+)
  • La Michoacana Meat Market, 649 Clarewood Dr.
    • June 15-18, 2021, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    • Moderna (age 18+)
  • La Michoacana Meat Market, 6036 S Gessner Rd.
    • June 15-18, 2021, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    • Moderna (age 18+)
  • St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Gethsemane, 6856 Bellaire Blvd.
    • June 15-18, 2021: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
    • June 19, 2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    • Pfizer (age 12+)
  • Omnibus Express, 6580 Southwest Fwy.
    • June 15-20, 2021, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    • Johnson & Johnson (age 18+)
  • Universal Church (Westpark), 6115 Southwest Frwy.
    • June 16, 2021, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
    • Pfizer (age 12+) and Johnson & Johnson (age 18+)
  • Universal Church (Shepherd), 5150 N Shepherd Dr.
    • June 16, 2021, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
    • Pfizer (age 12+) and Johnson & Johnson (age 18+)
  • Las Varandas Del Sur Apartments, 10003 Forum Park Dr.
    • June 16-17, 2021, 1-5 p.m.
    • Moderna (age 18+)
  • Las Americas Middle School & Long Academy, 6501 Bellaire Blvd.
    • June 17, 2021, 2-6 p.m.
    • Pfizer (age 12+)
  • Pershing Middle School, 3838 Blue Bonnet Blvd.
    • June 18, 2021, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
    • Pfizer (age 12+)
  • Woodcreek on the Bayou Apartments, 7930 Corporate Dr.
    • June 18, 2021: 1-5 p.m.
    • June 19, 2021: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    • Moderna (age 18+)
  • Harwin Central Mart, 9700 Harwin Dr.
    • June 19, 2021, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    • Moderna (age 18+)
  • Astral Brewing, 4816 N Shepherd Dr.
    • June 19, 2021, 2-6 p.m.
    • Moderna (age 18+)
  • Deady Middle School, 2500 Broadway St.
    • June 19, 2021, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    • Pfizer (age 12+)
  • Clifton Middle School, 6001 Golden Forest Dr.
    • June 19, 2021, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
    • Pfizer (age 12+)

Fixed Sites

Moderna vaccine is also available at the department’s health centers and some multi-service centers, located at:

  • Northside Health Center, 8504 Schuller Rd.
    • Mondays: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    • Tuesdays-Fridays: 8:30 a.m. – 4:20 p.m.
  • Sharpstown Health Services, 6201 Bonhomme Rd.
    • Mondays: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    • Tuesdays-Fridays: 8:30 a.m. – 4:20 p.m.
  • La Nueva Casa de Amigos Health Center, 1809 North Main St.
    • Mondays: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    • Tuesdays-Fridays: 8:30 a.m. – 4:20 p.m.
    • Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Sunnyside Health Center, 4605 Wilmington St.
    • Mondays: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    • Tuesdays-Fridays: 8:30 a.m. – 4:20 p.m.
  • Southwest Multi-Service Center, 6400 High Star Dr.
    • Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Sunnyside Multi-Service Center, 9314 Cullen Blvd.
    • Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Magnolia Multi-Service Center, 7037 Capitol St.
    • Mondays-Fridays: 8:30 a.m.-4:20 p.m.
    • Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Hiram Clarke Multi-Service Center, 3810 W. Fuqua St.
    • Mondays-Fridays: 8:30 a.m.-4:20 p.m.
  • Acres Home Multi-Service Center, 6719 W. Montgomery Rd.
    • Mondays-Fridays: 8:30 a.m.-4:20 p.m.
  • Peavy Senior Center, 3814 Market Street
    • Mondays-Fridays: 8:30 a.m.-4:20 p.m.

Moderna vaccine is available at Delmar Stadium, 2020 Mangun Rd., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pfizer vaccine and Johnson & Johnson vaccine are available at the NRG Park Yellow Lot, Gate 16, 9036 S. Main St. The site is open Tuesdays through Sundays from noon to 7 p.m.

Appointments are available at HoustonEmerency.org/covid19 or by calling 832-393-4220 or 832-393-4301.

Uber and Lyft offer free transportation through July 4. Visit either app for more information.

Testing Sites

The department and its partner agencies offer free COVID-19 testing sites across the city.

A list of testing sites is available at HoustonEmergency.org/covid19 or by calling 832-393-4220.

The CDC recommends people who are not fully vaccinated get tested if they are symptomatic, had close contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19, or participated in activities that put them at high risk for COVID-19, such as attending large social or mass gatherings or being in crowed indoor settings.

People who are fully vaccinated and symptomatic should be evaluated by a healthcare provider and tested for COVID-19 if indicated, the CDC recommends.

Source: www.houstontx.gov

Texas Wins Ninth Gold Shovel Award For Job Creation And Business Investments

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Texas Wins Ninth Gold Shovel Award For Job Creation And Business Investments

Governor Greg Abbott today announced that Texas is again recognized with a Gold Shovel Award by Area Development magazine for leading among the most populous states in attracting high-value business investments in 2020 that will create a significant number of new jobs in communities across the state. This is the ninth year Texas has won a Gold Shovel Award.

“It’s no surprise that Texas continues to lead the nation in job creation and economic expansion,” said Governor Abbott. “The Lone Star State offers innovative businesses the freedom to flourish with our pro-growth economic policies, a predictable regulatory environment, and our young, growing, and diverse workforce. I thank Area Development Magazine for their recognition, and I look forward to welcoming even more new business investments and job creation as we unleash the full might of the Texas economy.”

Also named by Area Development as the manufacturing project of the year is the Tesla “gigafactory” project in Del Valle just outside Austin, a $1.1 billion investment expected to create 5,000 jobs.

Other significant job-creating investments in diverse industries across Texas cited by Area Development included: Amazon in Waco, Oak Cliff, and Pflugerville creating 3,500 jobs; Peloton in Plano creating 1,600 jobs; FedEx in Dallas creating 1,200 jobs; Navistar International Corp. in San Antonio creating 600 jobs; Max Midstream in Point Comfort creating 474 jobs; Freshpet Inc. in Ennis creating 427 jobs; and Gulf Coast Ammonia LLC in Texas City creating 40 jobs.

Source: gov.texas.gov

CRIME STOPPERS OF HOUSTON FUGITIVE FRIDAY

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CRIME STOPPERS OF HOUSTON FUGITIVE FRIDAY

In an effort to keep our neighborhoods safe, Crime Stoppers of Houston and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office are seeking the public’s help locating the following individuals that have active Felony and/or Misdemeanor Warrants.

Crime Stoppers may pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the location and arrest of the suspects featured. Information may be reported by calling 713-222-TIPS (8477), submitted online at www.crime-stoppers.org or through the Crime Stoppers mobile app. All tipsters remain anonymous. Only tips and calls DIRECTLY TO Crime Stoppers are anonymous and eligible for a cash reward.

The language in this press release is intentional and could have legal implications.  Please do not change the copy of the paragraph above.

All warrants are active at the time this press release was created and is subject to change.  Crime Stoppers of Houston and this news organization are not making any legal claims that this is the most current legal status.

 
Bell, Kristian Daniel
W/M      01-11-84      6’00”/190 Lbs.      Bro/Blu
THEFT AGGREGATE =>$150K<$300K MULCW
Warrant #: 1724350
Last known location: Houston Texas
Castellanos, Octavio Jonathan
W/M      06-19-89      5’08”/168 Lbs.      Bro/Bro
UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLE
Warrant #: 1658585, 1724984
Last known location: Houston Texas
Chapa, Alicia Marie
W/F      09-01-87      5’03”/220 Lbs.       Bro/Bro
FRAUD USE/POSS CRDIT/DEBIT CAR
Warrant #: 1723427
Last known location: Houston Texas
Expose, Karl
B/M      04-10-85      5’09”/165 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
AGG ASSAULT-FAMILY MEMBER
Warrant #: 1725210, 1725211
Last known location: Houston Texas
Forest, Daija Tatiyanna
B/F      08-09-99      4’11”/107 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
BURGLARY OF HABITATION
Warrant #: 1724805
Last known location: Houston Texas
Gonzalez, Ester
W/F      01-01-02      5’04”/200 Lbs.      Bro/Bro
ASSAULT PUBLIC SERVANT
Warrant #: 1724109
Last known location: Houston Texas
Hernandez, Claudia
W/F      11-07-84      5’04”/154 Lbs.      Bro/Bro
BURGLARY OF HABITATION
Warrant #: 1723186
Last known location: Houston Texas
San Miguel, Joshua
W/M      04-05-94      5’04”/145 Lbs.      Bro/Bro
THEFT >=2,500 <30,000
Warrant #: 1724303
Last known location: Porter Texas
Wilson, Patrice Shantel
B/F      01-23-87      5’00”/142 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
INJURY CHILD UNDER 15 B/INJURY
Warrant #: 1723693
Last known location: Houston Texas
Wolford, Macarte Dunzile
B/M      06-21-98      6’00”/180 Lbs.      Bro/Bro
ASSLT FAM/HOUSEHOLD MEM W/PREV
Warrant #: 1725045, 1722478, 1725319
Last known location: Houston Texas
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HISD board approves $2,500 pay increase for teachers

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HISD board approves $2,500 pay increase for teachers

Houston ISD teachers will soon receive a pay increase, according to HISD’s Board of Education.

During a Thursday night board meeting, HISD’s Board of Education unanimously approved a $2.2 billion budget for the 2021-2022 school year, which includes an amendment for a $2,500 pay raise in addition to the step increase for employees on the teacher pay scale schedule.

The budget also includes raises for elementary school principals and all assistant principals and deans.

The tax rate in the budget is slated to be a maximum of $1.1284 per $100 of property valuation, down from last year’s $1.1331.

Under the State of Texas’ formula, school districts will send some of their local property tax revenue to the state if they have excess revenue above what they are entitled to under the current school finance system.

For the 2021-2022 budget, HISD is expecting to spend about $213 million back to the Texas Education Agency, which will be re-distributed to schools across the state to fund overall public education.

Source: www.click2houston.com

59/610 West Loop northbound ramp is closed, construction currently underway

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59/610 West Loop northbound ramp is closed, construction currently underway

Due to all the rain, we had last week, the Texas Department of Transportation decided to postpone the major 59-610 ramp closure impacting folks traveling towards the Galleria area. Well, after much-needed drier weather, the closure kicked off Thursday evening — 9 p.m. sharp!

This massive road closure will affect thousands of drivers each day, so if you’re reading this newsletter and live in Fort Bend County or anywhere near the Sharpstown area and you use the northbound connector ramp to the West Loop northbound main lanes, that closure will happen first Thursday night. So that means you’ll need to figure out how you’re going to get to work and avoid this closure Friday morning.

Here’s a breakdown of what is happening the next couple of days into Monday night:

Two major connector ramps at the 59-610 intersection are shutting down.

First, the Southwest Freeway northbound connector ramp to the West Loop northbound main lanes close first (Thursday night at 9 p.m.).

So here’s your alternate route: Use the Furnace/Bellaire newly constructed exit ramp, continue on West Loop southbound to then make a quick U-turn under the West Loop to travel northbound. Enter the northbound main lanes on the West Loop as soon as you are able to.

Then, the following Monday, the Southwest Freeway southbound connector ramp to the West Loop northbound closes at 9 p.m. on Monday, June 14.

Source: www.click2houston.com

Gov. Greg Abbott announces Texas will begin building border wall

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Gov. Greg Abbott announces Texas will begin building border wall

 Gov. Greg Abbott hosted a Border Security Summit Thursday in Del Rio. During the summit, he announced that Texas will build a border wall along the state’s boundary with Mexico

Texas sheriffs, police chiefs, county judges, mayors, and landowners were invited to attend the summit to hear from state officials on the actions that Texas is taking to secure the southern border and address the ongoing humanitarian crisis, according to Abbott.

Abbott declared his plans during a press conference in Del Rio. He said he would discuss the plans next week. The Biden administration issued a proclamation that stopped border wall construction on his first day of office.

Abbott announced the news while discussing a slew of border initiatives, such as a $1 billion allocation for border security in the state budget lawmakers just passed and a plan to establish a Governor’s Task Force on Border and Homeland Security with public safety and state government officials.

“It will help all of us to work on ways to stem the flow of unlawful immigration and to stem the flow of illegal contraband,” Abbott said, while seated next to officials from the National Guard, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Texas Division of Emergency Management.

Abbott didn’t address the ongoing conflict between himself and the Biden administration that escalated this week after federal officials threatened to sue Texas over Abbott’s order to strip certain shelters for migrant children of their state licenses, which could force the shelter operators — which operate under contracts with the federal government — to move the children elsewhere.

The 52 state-licensed shelters house roughly 8,600 children, according to data from the state. In a letter to Texas officials Monday, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services attorney Paul Rodriguez asked Texas to clarify Abbott’s order and said it could violate the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, which states that federal law overrides state laws. He gave Texas until Friday to respond.

Abbott has blamed the recent surge of migrants to the Texas-Mexico border on the Biden administration’s immigration policies, claiming in a disaster declaration this week that new federal policies have paved the way for “dangerous gangs and cartels, human traffickers, and deadly drugs like fentanyl to pour into our communities.”

Two weeks ago, Abbott deployed more than 1,000 Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and National Guard members to the border as part of Operation Lone Star — an initiative he announced in March aimed at beefing up security at the border with troopers and National Guard. Abbott later expanded those efforts to also tackle human trafficking at the border, including a plan for DPS troopers and Texas Rangers to interview unaccompanied minors that cross the border to identify potential human trafficking victims.

During his first months in office, Biden paused border wall construction started under former President Donald Trump and ordered a review of the Trump administration’s Migrant Protection Protocols, which required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico until their cases could be heard in U.S. immigration courts.

The Biden Administration has referred to its new policies as a way to be more humane toward migrants.

After Vice President Kamala Harris visited Guatemala and Mexico this week, she told NBC’s Lester Holt, “We have to understand that there’s a reason people are arriving at our border and ask what is that reason and then identify the problem so we can fix it.”

During her trip, she faced backlash from progressives after she told Guatemalans: “Do not come.”

Source: www.click2houston.com

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