Republicans are not backing down.
In a statement released on Monday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott reiterated his commitment to safeguarding the state and the nation against the influx of illegal migrants, citing President Joe Biden’s perceived failure to enforce federal immigration laws as the impetus behind Texas’ proactive measures.
Using social media as his platform, Governor Abbott shared a photo showcasing Texas National Guard soldiers reinforcing a wire fence along the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso. Emphasizing the state’s determination, Abbott underscored Texas’ sovereign authority in defending its southern border, a duty he believes the federal government has neglected under President Biden’s leadership.
This declaration from Governor Abbott follows recent reports detailing the collaborative efforts of Mexican federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel, who converged near El Paso to deter a migrant caravan estimated at around 2,000 individuals from crossing into the United States. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton suggested that Mexico’s intervention aimed at bolstering President Biden’s electoral prospects, recognizing immigration as a contentious issue for his administration.
Statistics reveal a significant influx of approximately 7.3 million migrants crossing the southwest border illegally since President Biden assumed office, according to a Fox News analysis conducted up to mid-February.
In response to criticism, Governor Abbott defended his proposal to transport migrants to “sanctuary cities,” rebuffing accusations of playing politics with human lives. New York City Mayor Eric Adams extended an invitation for Abbott to experience firsthand the conditions in migrant shelters, cautioning against the practice of burdening local municipalities with federal immigration issues.
Governor Abbott shifted blame onto President Biden, accusing him of utilizing illegal immigrants as political pawns to court favor with the progressive faction of the Democratic Party. He argued that Biden’s open-border policies, designed to appease far-left voices within his party, are detrimental to the nation’s security and integrity.
Regarding legal battles over immigration enforcement, a recent ruling by a U.S. appeals court upheld the suspension of a Texas law empowering state authorities to arrest and prosecute individuals suspected of unlawfully crossing the southern border. This law, championed by the GOP, faced opposition from the Biden administration, which argued that it encroached upon federal jurisdiction.
The ongoing legal and political skirmishes underscore the contentious nature of immigration policy in the United States, with Texas emerging as a prominent battleground where state and federal authorities clash over their respective roles and responsibilities.
