A 1,402-acre ranch in Texas may become ground zero for the deportation of criminal illegal aliens. 

Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, a Republican, spearheaded purchase of the ranch, which is located along the border with Mexico in Starr County between Laredo and McAllen, Texas.

Now, Buckingham says, Texas may lease the land to the federal government as a site to process illegal aliens for deportation. She figures President-elect Donald Trump may need it.

“We just thought we'd write a letter to [Trump] and say, ... if we can help, we have this property,” she says. 

Deportations of illegal aliens, especially criminal illegal aliens, was a pillar of Trump's presidential campaign, and Buckingham says she and other leaders in Texas recognize that the incoming Trump administration will “probably need a facility to … relieve the strain on the local jails to get the proper processing before these people are deported.” 

Tom Homan, Trump’s incoming border czar, has indicated he is interested in using the 1,402-acre ranch, a popular crossing point for illegal aliens, as the second Trump administration begins a major effort to secure the border and remove criminals who entered the country illegally. 

Illegal aliens already have crossed the border into America unlawfully. Generally, "criminal illegal aliens" refers to those who also have been convicted of a crime either in America or in another country.

Buckingham joins this episode of “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss what will change at the border when Trump returns next month.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices