Texas launched a campaign to deter illegal border crossings, using attention-getting messages on billboards throughout Mexico and Central America.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott is hoping the 40 billboards in multiple languages, including Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Arabic, will deter migrants from making the journey to cross illegally into the U.S. At a cost of approximately $100,000, the campaign employs shocking messages to discourage illegal immigration, emphasizing dangers such as sexual assault.

Texas put up billboards in Mexico & Central America to deter illegal immigration.

These billboards tell the horror stories of human trafficking & consequences of crossing illegally.

This new campaign is to stop the illegal journey from even beginning in the first place. pic.twitter.com/69XPaXYW7e

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) December 19, 2024

Abbott unveiled the billboards as he spoke at a press conference Thursday in Eagle Pass. The signs included bold messages like: “Stop, if you cross the border illegally into Texas, you will be jailed,” and “Your wife and daughter will pay for the trip with their bodies. Coyotes lie. Don’t put your family at risk.”

Other messages read, “How much did you pay to have your daughter raped?” and ” ‘Many girls who try to migrate to Texas are kidnapped. For the sake of your family, stop.'”

“We are launching a new campaign to deter illegal immigration into Texas,” Abbott said at the press conference at Wall Ranch where he pointed to a burned tree referred to as a “rape tree” where traffickers sexually assault migrants.

“Yesterday, we began putting up billboards – dozens of billboards – in Central America and in Mexico. They inform potential illegal immigrants about the reality of what will happen to them if they try to enter Texas illegally,” Abbott said, adding that the signs “tell the horror stories of human trafficking.”

“This is tough medicine,” the governor added.

Abbott mentioned the incoming Trump administration and plans to deport illegal immigrants as well as highlighting the efforts through Operation Lone Star and vowing “we will continue to arrest” any coming through Texas illegally.

Unveiled Texas’ new campaign to deter illegal immigration in Eagle Pass today.

Texas has put up DOZENS of billboards in Central America & Mexico.

They’re a reminder of what will happen to those who illegally cross into Texas—including the horrors of human trafficking. pic.twitter.com/8kZaer0P3X

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) December 19, 2024

The Republican governor added that the “horror” of the illegal migrant crisis is something “that we fully expect to end beginning in about a month when President Trump takes office and shuts down the border and restores safety and normalcy.”