On Dec. 19, Governor Greg Abbott held a press conference proudly announcing the rollout of a billboard campaign that he says is meant to “dissuade migrants” from making the oftentimes dangerous journey to the U.S. to cross the Texas/Mexico border. The press conference was held against the backdrop of an alleged “rape tree” in Eagle Pass, where Abbott proudly touted the spectacle meant to deter migrants from crossing illegally.
The 40 billboards, placed strategically throughout El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and along the Texas/Mexico border, display brash, and some argue, hypocritical messaging – warning potential crossers of what Abbott called “the violent, horrid realities of what will happen to the women and children they bring with them.” Funded through Operation Lone Star, the $100,000 billboard project warns migrants in several languages — including Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Russian, seemingly meant to catch the gaze of the increase of migrants from Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe — of what Abbott says are the “consequences” of crossing. The messages range from warning that women and children could be sexually assaulted and/or raped, to signs threatening arrest and deportation.
Though the initiative has been met with support from people like Rose Luna, the CEO of Texas Association Against Sexual Assault and the Walls, a rancher couple who claim to found several rape trees and “lots of women” who they say have been “found beaten and raped” in front of their house, others are calling out the Texas Governor for the style of messaging and hypocrisy.
The billboards seem to perpetuate a narrative of fear that has taken hold in far-right American politics, further giving more hue to an already colorful picture of migrants flowing into the overrun the U.S. with criminals and breathing economic burdens. Ironically though, not only are many of the dangers closed-border ideologists cite as deterrents to crossing the southern border are strikingly similar to those migrants will face once in the United States, the U.S.’s foreign policy has, more often than not, had a direct hand in creating the very migrants that often show up at border doorsteps.
The Claim: Migrants Come With Drugs & Guns
The Real: What the far-right commentary lacks is context – almost always failing to mention that said violence is fueled by the high demand for drugs in the US and lax gun laws in states like Texas. First, the United States has one of the highest rates of drug use in the developed world, creating a significant market for illegal substances and fueling the activities of transnational criminal organizations. Next, one thing the United States seems to actually be exceptional at is holding on to the dubious distinction of leading the developed world in gun deaths. Mass shootings, a horrifyingly common occurrence for Americans, continue to paint a grim picture of a nation struggling to control its own gun culture. In 2022 alone, 24,204 people died from firearms in the States, an average of one death every 11 minutes. Lastly, studies by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) indicate that between 2016 and 2021, 68% of guns traced back to crime scenes in Mexico originated from the United States.
The Claim: Migrants Are An Economic Burden
The Real: With limited economic opportunities, low wages, and inadequate access to education and healthcare, the hardship of basic survival tends to push immigrants to seek a better life elsewhere. Poverty and inequality are often rampant in many of the countries from whence migrants original. But these economic disparities often either caused by or only further exacerbated by US trade policies – politics that often favor large corporations over small farmers and local businesses, contributing to displacement and economic instability. Besides, the United States itself grapples with only increasing issues of poverty, extreme rises in the cost to live, income inequality, and an all but destroyed middle class. Ironically, while the country demonizes immigrants for straining resources, homelessness increased by a staggering 18% across the United States in 2024, a stark reminder of the domestic failures that truly burden our society.
Sure, while immigrants may compete for certain jobs, especially in industries like agriculture, healthcare, and construction, it’s crucial to acknowledge that many migrants fill critical roles in our society, often taking on jobs that Americans are unwilling or unable to perform. These workers also contribute to the economy as consumers and taxpayers. Studies consistently show that immigration has a positive net effect on the US economy, increasing GDP and benefiting native-born workers in the long run.
The Claim: Migrants Are Violent
The Real: The United States itself possesses a deeply ingrained culture of violence, fueled by factors such as easy access to firearms, a history of systemic racism, and a pervasive glorification of violence in media and entertainment. This culture permeates US society, contributing to high rates of gun violence, mass shootings, and other forms of violent crime. This culture has tagged alone for every ride the US has taken around the globe.
The U.S. has a longstanding history of intervention, including support for repressive regimes, involvement in armed conflicts, and the overthrowing of democratically elected leaders, all through its “foreign policy”. Take the U.S. intervention in El Salvador’s civil war (1979-1992) that led to widespread human rights violations, including massacres of civilians. In the Middle East, US interventions, like the Iraq War and the support for destabilizing forces in Syria, have created immense human suffering.
The Warning: How much did you pay to have your daughter raped? Many girls are raped by the coyotes you hire.
The Real: Coyotes may be dangerous, but there are wolves and sheep’s clothing waiting in the United States. Research consistently shows that Black women in the United States experience disproportionately high rates of sexual violence. Studies indicate a higher lifetime prevalence of sexual assault among Black women, with specific forms like intimate partner violence and workplace harassment occurring more frequently. These disparities are further exacerbated by systemic barriers, such as mistrust of law enforcement due to historical and ongoing racial bias within the criminal justice system, fear of retaliation, and limited access to culturally competent support services.
The Warning: Your wife and daughter will pay for the trip with their bodies. Coyotes lie. Don’t put your family at risk.
The Real: Texas has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the United States, effectively banning most procedures with limited exceptions. This near-total ban relies heavily on civil lawsuits, empowering private citizens to sue anyone who assists with an abortion. While the focus often lies on the dangers of illegal border crossings, it’s crucial to acknowledge the significant dangers faced by women within the US, particularly women of color.
Abbott’s Hypocrisy
The current view on immigration seems built on a twisted logic. It warns of dangers abroad while conveniently ignoring the very real challenges faced within the United States. It paints a picture of a nation under siege, while simultaneously failing to address the root causes of both internal and external strife.
While Governor Abbott sought to warn migrants of the “harsh realities” at the hands of human smugglers and coyotes, he failed to mentioned that what many of these migrants are running from was caused by the U.S. and that they’re likely to meet many of the same issues across the border. The United States faces a significant issue with missing children, particularly young girls of color, with hundreds of thousands of children were reported missing in 2022 alone – a disproportionate number of whom are Black and Brown girls. The country faces its own share of societal ills, from police brutality, and mass incarceration to a deeply divided political climate that has all demographics questioning the true level of safety on this side of the billboards, borders and barriers.
