In a recent development, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has taken a firm stand against President Joe Biden’s efforts to hinder the state from fortifying its borders. This comes in light of the escalating influx of illegal immigrants into Texas, which is a direct outcome of what Abbott terms as “Biden’s irresponsible border policies.”
In a statement released on Wednesday, Abbott opposed the U.S Supreme Court’s decision siding with the Biden Administration. Earlier this week, the court ruled in favor of removing or slicing through the razor wire Texas had installed to prevent illegal immigrants from crossing the Rio Grande into the state.
My statement on Texas’ constitutional right to self-defense. pic.twitter.com/seNFZdmujP
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 24, 2024
Governor Abbott accused President Biden of breaching his oath to enforce immigration laws enacted by Congress faithfully. He said, “Instead of prosecuting immigrants for the federal crime of illegal entry, President Biden has sent his lawyers into federal courts to sue Texas for taking action to secure the border.”
The Texas governor also criticized Biden for directing his agencies to disregard federal statutes mandating the detention of illegal immigrants. He claims that this action effectively allows their mass parole into the United States, which is unlawful. He added, “By wasting taxpayer dollars to tear open Texas’s border security infrastructure, President Biden has enticed illegal immigrants away from the 28 legal entry points along this State’s southern border—bridges where nobody drowns—and into the dangerous waters of the Rio Grande.”
Abbott pointed out that over 6 million illegal aliens have entered Texas via its southern border during Biden’s administration. This number surpasses the population of 30 U.S states.
Citing the visionaries who drafted the U.S Constitution, such as James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, Abbott highlighted that they anticipated states might be vulnerable to lawless presidents who fail to counter external threats like cartels smuggling millions of illegal immigrants across the border. Hence, they included both Article IV, § 4, promising federal government protection for each state against invasion, and Article I, § 10, Clause 3, recognizing “the States’ sovereign interest in protecting their borders.”
Abbott argues that Biden’s failure to secure the border, as demanded by Article IV, § 4, has activated Article I, § 10, Clause 3, which grants Texas the right to self-defense. He said, “For these reasons, I have already declared an invasion under Article I, § 10, Clause 3 to invoke Texas’s constitutional authority to defend and protect itself,” he concluded. “That authority is the supreme law of the land and supersedes any federal statutes to the contrary. The Texas National Guard, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and other Texas personnel are acting on that authority, as well as state law, to secure the Texas border.”
This development marks a significant turning point in the ongoing border crisis, with Texas taking a resolute stand in defending its borders.
