Hill Country Chronicle

Republican gubernatorial candidate Don Huffines is calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to secure the state’s border with Mexico after convicted sexual offenders were caught crossing it last year.

In the past year, the U.S. Border Patrol noted more than 60 convicted sexual offenders were apprehended crossing the border.

"President Trump said they weren’t sending their best. He was right. We must stop the invasion and secure the Texas border. If the federal government won’t deport them, I will,” Huffines said in a statement.

Fox News recently reported on one illegal immigrant from Ecuador, noting he had convictions for child rape for which he had served 12 years in prison before illegally entering the U.S. again.

In Atlanta, Ga., the man was convicted of aggravated sodomy, child molestation, and rape.

The U.S. Border Patrol announced the arrest over the holiday break.

Abbott launched Operation Lone Star, deploying National Guardsmen to the state’s southern border. The $412 million program has faced criticism after Abbott struggled to pay the troops. Now a suicide epidemic is being reported in the ranks of soldiers.

In March 2021, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Department reported apprehending 172,331 illegal aliens. Since March 2001, this is the highest total. There were 96,628 single adult migrants in March, up 40% from 68,992 in February.

Huffines will face Abbott in the gubernatorial primary on March 1.

From 2015 to 2019, he represented Texas' 16th State Senate District.

Huffines is the CEO of Huffines Communities, a Dallas/Fort Worth-based real estate development firm.