In their speeches, the former president and the Texas governor described the protection of Second Amendment rights as contingent on Trump’s presidential reelection.

Texas DPS officers gather near a closed walkway to the Dallas convention center before a news conferenced about migrant children detentions Wednesday, March 17, 2021, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden’s head of Homeland Security sparred Wednesday with members of Congress over the surge of migrants at the Southwest border, refusing to concede the situation was a crisis or even much different from what the two previous administrations faced. He also noted that Homeland Security has expanded an effort to vaccinate Border Patrol members. AdThe surge in migrant children has overwhelmed facilities and coincided with the arrival of immigrant families fleeing poverty and violence in Central America. During Wednesday's hearing before the House Homeland Security Committee, Mayorkas and some members of Congress attempted to shift the focus to non-border issues handled by his department.

A tent facility operated by the Border Patrol in Donna, some 500 miles (804 kilometers) south of Dallas, is holding more than 1,000 children and teenagers, some as young as 4. “This crisis is created by the presidential policies of this new administration,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Monday while leading a large congressional delegation to El Paso, Texas. “There’s no other way to claim it than a Biden border crisis.”Texas Gov. Dallas previously offered space to HHS during the 2014 surge of crossings of immigrant children. HHS also has said it will house immigrant youths in Midland.

FILE - In this March 31, 2020 file photo, a leaning sign sits in front of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas. “There’s no other way to claim it than a Biden border crisis.”Texas Gov. The memo sent to Dallas City Council members says the Federal Emergency Management Agency and HHS will “be responsible for providing shelter management and contracts” for food, security, cleaning, and medical care at the convention center. Dallas previously offered space to HHS during the 2014 surge of crossings of immigrant children. HHS also has said it will house immigrant youths in Midland.

Joining him are Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd (left) and former State Representative Dr. John Zerwas (right). (Photo by Tom Fox-Pool/Getty Images)AUSTIN, Texas – Texas opened an additional facility on Tuesday to expand hospital capacity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in central Texas, according to Governor Greg Abbott’s Office. The facility will provide central Texas with additional hospital beds, medical equipment, and medical personnel to assist with the region’s COVID-19 response. The facility has a capacity of 25 beds and can expand to more beds if needed, according to the governor’s office. “This Alternate Care Site in central Texas will reduce the burden on local hospitals and help ensure that Texans diagnosed with COVID-19 receive the care they need,” Abbott is quoted as saying in a news release.

NRG Stadium could be set to serve as a care facility during the COVID-19 Pandemic. In a press conference on Friday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott alluded to the possibility when talking about the emergency care facilities popping up around the country, as hospitals are overflowing. “We have one up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area called FMS, Federal Medical Station, 250 beds in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center," said Abbott. “There’s actually similarly about that same number of beds set up in the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, and then Houston will be setting one up in NRG.”Abbott did not specify whether he meant NRG Stadium or NRG Arena.