- Republican Congressman Mike Johnson voices support for Texas Governor Greg Abbott in border dispute with federal government over razor wire presence.
- House actions to assist Abbott in conflict with federal government remain unclear, with a separate effort by House Republicans to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas being mentioned.
- Some Democrats urge President Biden to take a tougher stance on Texas as the state challenges federal authority through measures like Operation Lone Star and seizure of a public park. Abbott accuses Biden of violating immigration laws and invokes constitutional authority to justify state actions.
Additional Coverage:
- Speaker Johnson backs Abbott’s border ‘invasion’ decree (thehill.com)
Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, expressed his support for Texas Governor Greg Abbott in their dispute with the federal government over the presence of razor wire along the U.S.-Mexico border. Johnson stated that he would “back him up” and that the House would do everything possible to support Abbott. The Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of the federal government’s request to remove the razor wire, citing concerns about its impact on Border Patrol operations and the safety of law enforcement and migrants.
Despite Johnson’s support, it is unclear what actions the House can take to assist Abbott. Johnson mentioned a separate effort by House Republicans to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as the next step. However, removing Mayorkas would unlikely resolve the conflict between Texas and the federal government, as it would require a two-thirds vote in the Democrat-led Senate.
Johnson’s backing of Abbott comes at a time when some Democrats are urging President Biden to take a tougher stance on Texas. The state has implemented Operation Lone Star, which includes measures that challenge federal authority, such as placing buoys in the Rio Grande, resulting in legal battles with the federal government. Texas officials also recently seized control of a public park on the Rio Grande shores, using National Guard troops to restrict Border Patrol access.
Representative Joaquin Castro of Texas called for the federalization of the Texas National Guard, arguing that it ultimately falls under Biden’s command as commander in chief. Representative Greg Casar also supported this idea, stating that Biden should establish sole federal control of the Texas National Guard if Abbott continues to defy the Supreme Court ruling.
In response, Abbott accused Biden of violating immigration laws and invoked the constitutional authority that grants states the right to defend themselves against “invasion.” He argued that this authority supersedes any conflicting federal statutes and justifies the actions taken by Texas National Guard, Texas Department of Public Safety, and other state personnel to secure the border.
While tensions escalate between Texas and the federal government, there is no immediate resolution in sight, and both sides continue to press their positions. For more news and information, visit The Hill.
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- Speaker Johnson backs Abbott’s border ‘invasion’ decree (thehill.com)