An Arizona member of the U.S. House of Representatives has reiterated his support of a government shutdown until the federal government deals with the ongoing crisis at the southern border.
Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) said in a Wednesday article from the Gateway Pundit that many members of the House understand “the severity of this issue,” adding that voters are also beginning to comprehend that there is “an invasion at the southern border.”
Crane has been vocal in his belief that a government shutdown could be the push needed to catalyze a reform in border security, as The Dallas Express reported.
“We’re gonna keep doing everything that we can to sound the alarm and force people to pay attention to it and force other representatives and officials up here in Washington DC to do something about it,” Crane said while speaking with Gateway Pundit correspondent Jordan Conradson.
“And if that means that we have to have a government shutdown, Jordan, hey, then let’s do that. If that’s what it’s going to take for people to wake up, then I’m all about it because this is an invasion, and it’s going to drastically affect our nation for decades.”
In addition to the comments from Crane, Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) has also voiced concern about the border and said that a shutdown may be the last option available.
“None of us want to shut down the government, but we all recognize the fact that every single penny that we are giving to Homeland Security at this point that is not being used to secure the border … is hurting our national security, hurting our best interest, and killing our economy,” Duyne said, per The Washington Post.
While some officials have called for the shutdown of the government until the border is more secure, others have raised questions about whether this would be an effective step.
“So, do you think that it’s going to be better if we shut the government down on immigration? Or is that going to present an even greater problem? I can give you the answer, because my Republican colleagues obviously don’t know. It’s going to make it even worse, you’re going to exacerbate the problem,” said Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) to Spectrum News.
“But guess what? That’s the perfect storm for them because they only want to campaign on this issue.”
This debate comes amid a growing crisis at the southern border, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection reporting record-breaking numbers of encounters with unlawful migrants.
CBP confirmed more than 300,000 encounters at the southern border in December, breaking the previous record of 269,735 encounters in September.
The crisis prompted the Texas National Guard to seize control over Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, claiming that the federal government has chosen to “perpetuate illegal crossings,” as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
A video posted by Chuck Callesto shortly after the seizure appears to show two Border Patrol vehicles attempting to enter the park but being denied access by Texas National Guard soldiers.
This seizure prompted the Department of Homeland Security to send a cease-and-desist letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, arguing that the actions were unconstitutional since the actions “impeded operations” that are meant to be performed by Border Patrol.
DHS General Counsel Jonathan Meyer wrote in the letter that the State would have until Wednesday to confirm that the Texas National Guard will allow the federal government access to the park.
Meyer stated in the letter that a failure to confirm would result in the federal agency choosing to “refer the matter to the Department of Justice for appropriate action and consider all other options available to restore Border Patrol’s access to the border.”
As reported by The Dallas Express, Paxton responded to the letter on Wednesday, writing in part:
“Rather than addressing Texas’s urgent requests for protection, President Biden has authorized DHS to send a threatening letter through its lawyers. But Texas has lawyers, too, and I will continue to stand up for this State’s constitutional powers of self-defense. Instead of running to the U.S. Department of Justice in hopes of winning an injunction, you should advise your clients at DHS to do their job and follow the law.
“Texas will not surrender to Biden’s destructive open-border policies. Attorney General Paxton will continue to defend Texas as it uses its constitutional authority to defend state territory, sovereignty, and citizens.”
