Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on Thursday the launch of a new program that will compensate landowners along the U.S.-Mexico border for damage to their property caused by migrants, smugglers, or drug traffickers. To qualify, landowners must file a claim within 90 days of the incident, and each claim must be accompanied by a police report documenting the damage. The program will cover up to $75,000 for damages to structures like barns or fences, according to a statement from Paxton’s office. The statement also placed blame for the damages on the Biden administration’s border policies.
“This program will provide much-needed relief to Texans whose property has been damaged by illegal crossings facilitated by federal policies,” Paxton said. “I’m glad to support the farmers and ranchers along our border who are facing the repercussions of President Biden’s harmful decisions.”
The damage from migrants crossing through private property, which often includes cutting through fences or crashing vehicles into them, has been a longstanding issue for landowners in border areas. The state program aims to address this problem by providing financial compensation to those affected.
The program was established by Senate Bill 1133, which allocated $18 million for the fund to cover the current and next fiscal year. However, only incidents occurring after September 1, when SB 1133 went into effect, are eligible for compensation. Landowners have until May 6 to file claims for any damage occurring between September 1 and that date.
Landowners can submit their applications online and will receive further instructions via email, according to the attorney general’s office.
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