Texas signs US$800M border security package into law

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed into law an US$800 million border security package that will mean more state troopers, cameras and a spy plane to patrol Texas' 1,200-mile border with Mexico.

The Republican made border security an emergency item, fast-tracking proposals on it through the GOP-controlled Legislature during the 140-day session that ended last week.

Abbott signed the law Tuesday, during a ceremony at the Department of Public Safety's regional headquarters in Houston.

It should accelerate the hiring of 250 additional state troopers who will patrol the border, replacing National Guard troops deployed there last summer by Abbott's predecessor, Gov. Rick Perry.

Abbott also signed bills establishing a child sex trafficking prevention unit, toughening punishments for convicted human traffickers and increasing state funding for a border prosecution unit.