Texas to receive $7.5 billion from DHS to reimburse border security costs

Texas will receive a historic $7.5 billion reimbursement for border security costs, Gov. Greg Abbott announced on September 18, 2026. Abbott said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security approved the payment as part of federal funding to reimburse the state.

The governor linked the reimbursement to Texas’s Operation Lone Star, which he described as using thousands of Texas National Guard members and Department of Public Safety troopers, building border barriers, and using technology to stop illegal crossings and intercept drugs. According to the press release, illegal border crossings were reduced by more than 80% during the operation.

Abbott said the reimbursement was approved under the State Border Security Reinforcement Fund created in a bill referred to in the release as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” He also said Texas submitted its application to DHS in June.

The release adds that Texas is also applying for a portion of an additional $3 billion in Department of Justice funds, which Abbott frames as reimbursement for costs tied to federal immigration enforcement decisions.

This announcement is about state spending and federal reimbursement, not a direct change to immigration eligibility rules. Still, it may affect how Texas funds and continues border enforcement activities.