In Eagle Pass, Texas, a significant gathering of thirteen Republican governors, led by Governor Greg Abbott, made a public call to President Joe Biden to address the surge of illegal migrant entries along the southern U.S. border. During a media briefing, Abbott vocalized his strong dissatisfaction with the Biden White House’s approach to immigration, demanding swift and decisive measures to halt the influx of illegal crossings.
Abbott, unreserved in his criticism, held the administration accountable for what he perceives as a failure to uphold immigration laws, urging Biden to fulfill his responsibilities. “It’s now up to you, President Biden — your duty, your responsibility, to enforce the laws passed by Congress and secure our border, just as Texas has taken initiative to do,” Abbott said.
The tension between Texas and the Biden White House has been escalating, highlighted by Texas’ measures to limit U.S. Border Patrol access to certain areas and the strategic placement of razor wire barriers. These actions have significantly reduced illegal crossings in targeted locales, showcasing the state’s proactive stance on border security.
Abbott further criticized the federal government for what he sees as a dereliction of duty, asserting his and other states’ constitutional prerogatives to defend their borders in light of federal inaction. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders lent her voice to the critique, lamenting the federal government’s lack of initiative which has forced states like Texas to assume the role of border enforcement.
“Due to these failures, Governor Abbott and other state leaders find themselves compelled to fill the void left by the federal government, stepping in to perform tasks that are fundamentally federal responsibilities,” Sanders said.
Governor Abbott’s call to action was supported by a notable roster of Republican governors, including Mike Parson (Missouri), Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Arkansas), Jeff Landry (Louisiana), Brian Kemp (Georgia), Kim Reynolds (Iowa), Brad Little (Idaho), Eric Holcomb (Indiana), Tate Reeves (Mississippi), , Greg Gianforte (Montana), Chris Sununu (New Hampshire), Jill Pillen (Nebraska), Bill Lee (Tennessee), and Spencer Cox (Utah).
?JUST IN: Texas Governor Greg Abbott was joined by 13 other governors for the border security press conference at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas#Texas #SaveAmerica #AmericaFirst #texasbordercrisis pic.twitter.com/nHKmSRAUbX
— AJ Huber ?? (@Huberton) February 5, 2024
This collective appearance and unified stance underscore a growing concern among Republican leaders regarding national security and immigration policy, spotlighting a critical area of contention between state and federal government.
