Texas closes Jim Hogg County jail amid declining crossings

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the closure of the Jim Hogg County jail, which housed immigrants arrested for border-related crimes. The facility, opened in 2022, will shut down completely by April due to a significant drop in illegal crossings. The decision follows a decrease in border crossings since early 2024, attributed to new legal pathways and changes in asylum policies. Abbott stated that the facility is no longer needed and has offered it to the Trump administration for border security use. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is also closing five temporary processing facilities due to falling crossing numbers. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is currently facing capacity issues as it manages illegal immigrant detentions.