The United States is going through a kind of institutional crisis after Republicans and Democrats support and question Greg Abbott, Republican governor of Texas, after he accuses the federal government of abandoning the Lone Star State amid a severe, long-standing border crisis.
In a lengthy statement released earlier, Abbott accused the Biden Administration of failing to protect the United States' borders from foreign dangers, such as Mexican cartels taking advantage of mass, illegal migration at the southern border.
My statement on Texas’ constitutional right to self-defense. pic.twitter.com/seNFZdmujP
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 24, 2024
For this reason, the Texas governor stated that, after declaring an invasion in September 2023, Texas now has the power to protect its borders even by overriding federal statutes. An announcement that is generating strong questions from Democrats and the support of several Republican allies.
"Greg Abbott has continued to use political stunts and inflammatory language to advance his own agenda, violating the Constitution and endangering both U.S. citizens and asylum seekers," Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) said on X (Twitter). "Abbott is following the Donald Trump playbook: making immigration harder and more dangerous, so asylum seekers are pushed into the hands of cartels and the system remains broken."
🧵 Greg Abbott has continued to use political stunts and inflammatory language to advance his own agenda, violating the Constitution and endangering both U.S. citizens and asylum seekers. (1/6)
— Congressman Greg Casar (@RepCasar) January 24, 2024
Other Texas Democrats, such as Representative Joaquín Castro or former Representative Beto O'Rourke, who is running for governor of the state, criticized Abbott for supposedly defying the most recent failure of the Supreme Court that overturned an order that asked federal agents to cut down the barbed fences placed by Texas along the border area to prevent illegal migration.
"Governor Greg Abbott is using the Texas National Guard to obstruct and create chaos at the border," published Castro on Tuesday at X. "If Abbott is defying yesterday's Supreme Court ruling, @POTUS needs to establish sole federal control of the Texas National Guard now."
From Florida to Virginia: Texas is not left alone
However, Abbott is not alone in his fight, with several Republican allies across the country supporting his stance against the federal government.
"If the Constitution really made states powerless to defend themselves against an invasion, it wouldn't have been ratified in the first place and Texas would have never joined the union when it did," wrote Florida governor and former presidential candidate Ron DeSantis. "TX is upholding the law while Biden is flouting it. FL will keep assisting Texas with personnel and assets."
If the Constitution really made states powerless to defend themselves against an invasion, it wouldn’t have been ratified in the first place and Texas would have never joined the union when it did.
TX is upholding the law while Biden is flouting it.
FL will keep assisting… https://t.co/qOJY2zT1hG
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 24, 2024
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, also a Republican, posted a video of the Texas National Guard marching accompanied by the message: "Oklahoma stands with Texas."
Oklahoma stands with Texas. https://t.co/67VzVEfEv1
— Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) January 24, 2024
The entire controversy occurs while Abbott fights multiple legal battles with the Biden Administration, which is now threatening further legal action over the state's takeover of Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, one of the cities most affected by the border crisis.
Until now, Texas has restricted federal officials' access to Shelby Park, claiming that the immigration measures they have imposed in the city are serving to control massive illegal migration. The Supreme Court, in its 5-4 ruling, said border agents can cut barbed wire placed by the Texas state if they so choose.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin also publicly backed Texas amid the dispute with the Biden Administration.
"Virginia stands with Texas. @GregAbbott_TX is doing the job Joe Biden and his border czar refuse to do to secure our border. The Biden administration has turned every state into a border state. We must stop the flow of fentanyl, save lives, and secure our southern border," the Republican governor said.
Virginia stands with Texas. @GregAbbott_TX is doing the job Joe Biden and his border czar refuse to do to secure our border.
The Biden administration has turned every state into a border state. We must stop the flow of fentanyl, save lives, and secure our southern border. https://t.co/XaPu2RqJBP
— Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) January 25, 2024
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem was not far behind: "@GregAbbott_TX is exactly right to invoke Texas' constitutional authority to defend itself. The Biden Administration has created a national security crisis and put Americans in danger. Their failure is an unconstitutional dereliction of duty. South Dakota has been proud to help Gov. Abbott's efforts to secure our border."
.@GregAbbott_TX is exactly right to invoke Texas’ constitutional authority to defend itself.
The Biden Administration has created a national security crisis and put Americans in danger. Their failure is an unconstitutional dereliction of duty.
South Dakota has been proud to… https://t.co/s4NMyvyu3Y
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) January 24, 2024
