Gov. Greg Abbott and 13 other state governors traveled to Eagle Pass on Sunday to discuss the ongoing dispute between the state and federal government due to the surge in unlawful migration.
This press conference came shortly after 25 Republican Governors issued a joint statement expressing support for Texas, writing that “the Biden Administration is refusing to enforce immigration laws already on the books and is illegally allowing mass parole across America of migrants who entered our country illegally.”
Of the 25 governors who signed the joint statement, 13 traveled to Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, which was recently seized by the Texas National Guard, to join Abbott during his press conference.
Govs. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (AR), Brian Kemp (GA), Brad Little (ID), Eric Holcomb (IN), Kim Reynolds (IA), Jeff Landry (LA), Tate Reeves (MS), Mike Parson (MO), Greg Gianforte (MT), Jim Pillen (NE), Chris Sununu (NH), Bill Lee (TN), and Spencer Cox (UT) were all in attendance.
In addition to being accompanied by the 13 state governors, Abbott was also joined by Texas Department of Public Safety Deputy Director Freeman Martin, Texas Adjutant General Major General Thomas Suelzer, Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, and Texas Border Czar Mike Banks, per a news release sent to The Dallas Express.
Abbott criticized President Joe Biden during his press conference, saying that Biden has “completely abdicated and abandoned his responsibility to enforce the laws of the United States.”
“Joe Biden, it is your turn now — your obligation, your duty, to follow the laws Congress passed and secure the border, just as Texas has,” continued the governor, per CBS News Texas.
Fourteen states have each provided resources to Texas in support of securing the border: Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Idaho, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Although many Republican governors support Texas’ endeavors, not every elected official shares the same concern about the crisis at the border.
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) also hosted a press conference on February 4, saying that Abbott is creating “the most virulent anti-immigrant sentiment in a generation.”
“Gov. Abbott understands by now that when he calls this an invasion that he’s putting a target on people’s backs,” continued Castro, per Axios.
This ongoing fight between the Lone Star State and the federal government is related to the continued uptick in unlawful migration at the southern border, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection reporting record-breaking numbers of encounters in recent months.
Texas has taken multiple steps to combat the crisis, some of which have resulted in legal battles with the federal government, specifically, the use of a floating barrier in the Rio Grande and concertina wire meant to deter unlawful crossings.
A previous injunction prevented federal agents from cutting the concertina wire; however, a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court vacated the ruling and allowed the cutting to continue. Although the ruling vacated the injunction, Texas was not prevented from installing additional wire.
While it is currently unclear what steps will be taken next by each side, Abbott has maintained that the state has a right to self-defense, stating, “When the federal government does not do its job as required by law, Texas has a right of self-defense, and we are going to use it,” as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
