- Texas Governor Greg Abbott claims right to self-defense against immigration influx
- White House criticizes Abbott’s actions as political stunts, emphasizes Border Patrol’s duties
- Supreme Court ruling on razor wire installation leads to confrontation between Texas and federal government
Additional Coverage:
The White House and Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott are at odds over control of the southern border. Abbott claimed that the influx of immigrants crossing into Texas was an “invasion” and argued that his state had the right to “self-defense” since President Biden had not enforced immigration laws. Abbott also stated that he would ignore any federal government efforts to remove razor wire installed along the border. The White House responded, criticizing Abbott’s political stunts and stressing the importance of allowing Border Patrol to perform their duties.
Abbott had ordered the Texas National Guard and Department of Public Safety to install razor wire near the Eagle Pass section of the border. The Supreme Court ruled that the Border Patrol had the authority to remove the wire, but Abbott argued that the state’s right of self-defense superseded federal law. The Department of Homeland Security demanded that Texas remove any obstructions to Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, while Texas law enforcement blocked Customs and Border Protection’s physical access to the park.
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, Abbott continued to fight for stronger border control and accused President Biden of not enforcing immigration laws. It remains uncertain whether Abbott would physically prevent federal officers from accessing Shelby Park. House Speaker Mike Johnson supported Abbott in his battle with the White House, promising to back him up.
While the Supreme Court’s order allowed federal border agents to resume control of the border area, Texas DPS posted a video of the Texas National Guard reinforcing barriers along the Rio Grande. Democratic Representative Joaquin Castro accused Abbott of obstructing and creating chaos at the border and called on President Biden to establish sole federal control of the Texas National Guard. Former Department of Homeland Security official John Cohen disagreed with Abbott’s characterization of the situation as an “invasion” and stated that it aligns with white supremacist ideology.
The article includes a statement from Abbott asserting Texas’ constitutional right to self-defense and a letter from the Department of Homeland Security demanding the removal of obstructions in Shelby Park.