Governor Greg Abbott today announced $4.7 million in federal Operation Stonegarden Grant Program (OPSG) funding to increase operational capabilities of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies along the border. The grants are part of the $23 million in Operations Orders approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) thus far under the current year’s grant program. OPSG promotes a layered and coordinated approach to border security by directing critical resources to fund additional overtime for law enforcement personnel, equipment, and related operational costs. These funds ensure that law enforcement partners are equipped with the resources they need to confront the complex and dynamic challenges that exist along the Texas border.
“These grants will provide more resources to the men and women of law enforcement who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe,” said Governor Abbott. “I am grateful for our partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and I remain committed to securing our southern border.”
DHS/FEMA allocated $30,218,753 in OPSG funding to the State of Texas last year, which was an increase of more than $10 million from the prior year. Eligible local units of government and federally recognized tribal governments work in coordination with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the United States Border Patrol (USBP) to develop Operations Orders that support border security needs identified by each USBP Sector. Once all federal reviews of planned Operations are complete, Texas is able to obligate the funds to participating law enforcement agencies. Local jurisdictions receiving funding through these latest OPSG awards include 29 law enforcement agencies located in the counties of Aransas, Brewster, Cameron, Frio, Jackson, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg, Kleberg, Matagorda, Maverick, Pecos, Refugio, Starr, Sutton, Terrell, Uvalde, Ward, Willacy, and Zavala.
The Homeland Security Grants Division (HSGD), a subset of the Governor’s Public Safety Office (PSO), is responsible for administering OPSG funding as part of the larger Homeland Security Grant Program from DHS/ FEMA. Local units of government along the southern border that are interested in learning more about this program should contact one of the five (5) USBP Sectors consisting of Big Bend, Del Rio, El Paso, Laredo and Rio Grande Valley, or the PSO at 512-463-1919.
