Texas Governor Greg Abbott has renewed the border security disaster proclamation first issued in May 2021. The renewal, announced on December 18, 2025, extends the state of disaster for dozens of counties along or near the Texas-Mexico border and for all affected state agencies.
The original proclamation was made under Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code due to what Abbott described as “the surge of individuals unlawfully crossing the Texas‒Mexico border” posing an ongoing threat. Since then, the list of affected counties has been amended several times.
Abbott stated: “WHEREAS, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, issued a disaster proclamation on May 31, 2021, certifying under Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code that the surge of individuals unlawfully crossing the Texas‒Mexico border posed an ongoing and imminent threat of disaster for a number of Texas counties and for all state agencies affected by this disaster; and WHEREAS, I amended the aforementioned proclamation in a number of subsequent proclamations, including to modify the list of affected counties and therefore declare a state of disaster for those counties and for all state agencies affected by this disaster; and WHEREAS, the certified conditions continue to exist and pose an ongoing and imminent threat of disaster as set forth in the prior proclamations; NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with the authority vested in me by Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code, I do hereby renew the aforementioned proclamation and declare a disaster for Aransas…Zavala Counties and for all state agencies affected by this disaster. All orders, directions, suspensions, and authorizations provided in the Proclamation of May 31, 2021, as amended and renewed in subsequent proclamations, are in full force and effect.”
The proclamation covers over sixty counties including El Paso, Hidalgo, Webb, Starr, Maverick, Val Verde among others.
According to information from the official website, Governor Abbott’s office is part of Texas’ executive branch with primary offices located at the State Insurance Building in Austin. Since his election in 2014 Greg Abbott led initiatives focused on job creation, economic opportunity enhancement, education improvement efforts as well as southern border security measures such as Operation Lone Star and other programs. The office has also contributed to statewide employment growth and recognition such as Greg Abbott being named among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2024.
The renewed declaration ensures that all previous orders related to this emergency remain active across designated areas. The document was attested by Secretary of State Jane Nelson.
