Lily Celeste

Congressman Cuellar reacts to Starr County land offer for deportation facilities Representative Henry Cuellar said he’s keeping a close eye on the 1,400-acre ranch in Starr County that the state offered to the incoming Trump administration.

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Cuellar says he’s keeping an eye on it; as a member of the appropriations committee, he *could* be directly involved in the operation of it.

While we don’t know where this facility would be placed … that northern strip seems to be the only non-farm land.

And we know GLO wants to continue using the property for farming to benefit the Permanent School Fund.

One thing I found interesting in our convo:

Cuellar said he wouldn’t want the facility near a neighborhood.

Red is (approx. and partial) outline of land. Many houses in La Casita line the property’s northern edge.

Rep. Cuellar says it could be good thing *if* it’s like current detention facilities. He still wants to know more about how it would operate.

He told me there are currently open beds in existing facilities.

Doesn’t like the border wall construction on the land.

New & exclusive: Rep Cuellar had a “productive” meeting w/ Rio Grande City & Starr County leaders last week about the TX GLO’s land offer to new admin for a “mass deportation facility.” #rgv

Hi! I’m Lily, reporter with KRGV covering everything from crime, government, border, courts, education. Email me lily@krgv.com.