Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sent letters on Thursday to U.S. congressional leaders requesting the federal government reimburse Texas for the $11.1 billion the state has spent on border security. In the letters,

AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott asked Congress to reimburse the state for billions of dollars in Texas taxpayer money spent on border security during former President Joe Biden’s administration. In letters Thursday to congressional leaders and the state delegation, Abbott requested more than $11 billion from Washington.

In a letter to U.S. congressional leaders, the governor blamed previous border security policy for leaving Texas “defenseless,” forcing state officials to spend billions.