Sen. Alicia Straub, R-Ellinwood, said she supported a Kansas Senate resolution drafted to pressure Gov. Laura Kelly to commit support to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, including Kansas National Guard troops and equipment, in an the effort on the southern border to deter illegal immigration. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)
TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate pressed ahead with a resolution declaring President Joe Biden violated the oath of office by failing to enforce federal immigration law and denouncing Gov. Laura Kelly for not offering state resources to help Texas Gov. Greg Abbott thwart unauthorized border crossings.
Despite bipartisan criticism from colleagues in the Senate, Sen. Mike Thompson, R-Shawnee, sought passage of a resolution that claimed members of the Kansas Legislature were “united” in their concerns about illegal immigration and “dismayed” with Biden’s unwillingness to protect the southern border.
The Kansas House approved a different resolution on a vote of 80-40. House Resolution 6035 featured the idea of deploying National Guard Air or Army forces. The Senate didn’t include comparable troop deployment language in Senate Resolution 1737 , but GOP advocates of the Senate resolution argued the Democratic governor should be prepared to order troops to Texas.