In an unexpected turn of events, Texas has left a key MAGA priority unfinished after suddenly halting border wall funding.
Despite the efforts, barely 5% of the barrier has been completed along the 1,200-mile southern border.
Governor Greg Abbott’s administration is now crediting President Donald Trump for the shift.
The change has made critics celebrate the end of what they call an ineffective political stunt that wasted billions in taxpayer dollars.
The new Texas budget approved by state lawmakers this month contains no additional funding for border wall construction, marking a dramatic shift in the state’s approach to border security.
This decision comes after four years of Abbott’s ambitious promises to build hundreds of miles of barrier along the Texas-Mexico border as part of his sweeping immigration crackdown.
To date, Texas has completed only 65 miles of border wall, roughly 5% of the state’s 1,200-mile border with Mexico.
The state has spent billions on this initiative, including funds from private donations that Abbott actively solicited.
Despite the limited progress, Abbott’s office is now framing the defunding as a strategic pivot rather than an abandonment of border security priorities.
“Thanks to President Trump’s bold leadership, the federal government is finally fulfilling its obligation to secure the southern border and deport criminal illegal immigrants,” Abbott spokesman Andrew Mahaleris said.
“Because of these renewed federal assets in Texas, our state can now adjust aspects of state-funded border security efforts,” he added.
Meanwhile, South Texas Environmental Justice Network co-founder Bekah Hinojosa stated, “This wall should have never been built, it’s useless. It divides our community.”
The construction process faced numerous challenges from the beginning, including difficulties with land acquisition and significant opposition from local communities and property owners.
Critics have long argued that the wall was more of a political statement than an effective security measure, pointing to its staggering costs and questionable effectiveness at stopping illegal crossings.
Despite cutting direct wall funding, Texas has not abandoned border security entirely.
The new budget still allocates $3.4 billion for border security operations over the next two years, primarily focused on continuing Operation Lone Star.
However, this represents nearly half of the previous $6.5 billion allocation, signaling a significant scaling back of resources.
State officials maintain that previously appropriated funds will allow for continued wall construction through 2026, potentially adding up to 85 more miles of barrier.
But without new funding, the project will eventually grind to a halt far short of Abbott’s original goals.
The situation highlights how even in border states like Texas with Republican leadership, the practical challenges of massive infrastructure projects often clash with political promises.
While migration numbers have decreased in recent months, many conservatives remain concerned that any progress could be temporary without physical barriers.
