Texas Gov. Greg Abbott unveiled a new billboard campaign on Thursday aimed at deterring illegal immigration by exposing the harsh realities of human trafficking, violence, and dangers faced by those attempting to enter the United States illegally.
Abbott announced the placement of dozens of billboards in multiple languages along known migrant travel routes in Mexico and Central America. “We’re here to expose the truth to immigrants who are thinking about coming here, the truth about the traffickers who assault so many of the women and children along the way,” Abbott said. “The message is: Do not risk a dangerous trip just to be arrested and deported.”
The announcement took place at a ranch near the southern border, where Abbott stood beside a burned “rape tree,” described by property owners as a site where migrant women had been assaulted. Abbott said the billboards aim to “tell the horror stories of human trafficking” and inform potential migrants about the consequences they face if they attempt to enter Texas illegally.
One billboard written in Spanish depicts a young girl with the question: “How much did you pay to have your daughter raped?” Another features a pregnant woman with the warning: “Your wife and daughter will pay for their trip with their bodies.” Billboards will be displayed in Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and Arabic.
Abbott, who recently toured the border with incoming border czar Tom Homan, emphasized that the new Trump administration will make deportations of arrested illegal immigrants a top priority. “This is tough medicine, but we want no more rape trees in Texas,” Abbott said. “Do not make the dangerous trek to Texas.”
Abbott criticized governments and organizations that downplay the risks of illegal immigration, accusing them of perpetuating false hopes. He stated, “We are providing reality facts for immigrants thinking about coming here—to save their lives, to save them from sexual assault, and to let them know there are consequences if they take further steps to enter Texas.”
Reflecting on the ongoing border crisis, Abbott blamed the Biden administration for the surge in illegal immigration. “It’s a deadly situation, a horrific situation, a horror that we fully expect to end beginning in about a month when President Trump takes office and shuts down the border and restores safety and normalcy to the immigration process.”
