We’ll take Biden to the Supreme Court for border protection

opinion

by Greg Abbott

August 28, 2023 | 4:45 p.m

Texans never back down from a fight, including protecting our borders.

And this challenge is not just limited to ruthless Mexican drug cartels seizing operational control of borders or the record rise in illegal immigration.

More importantly, this challenge is driven by the Biden administration’s intent to impede our efforts to secure the border and keep Texans safe.

President Biden’s Department of Justice sued the state of Texas last month over our recent efforts to deter immigrants from making the dangerous — and often fatal — illegal crossing through the Rio Grande waterway into Texas by deploying floating sea barriers.

Biden is clearly more interested in preventing Texas from protecting our sovereignty than he is in preventing cross-border criminals from exploiting his border crisis for profit or discouraging immigrants from risking their lives to enter America illegally.

He should send us a letter of thanks, not a lawsuit.

And we are ready to take this legal battle to the US Supreme Court to make clear that Texas – as well as other states – has full authority to secure the border.

In accordance with the Constitution of the United States, I, as Commander in Chief of the Texas Militia, have affirmed the sovereign interest of our State in the protection of our frontiers.

And because Biden refuses to enforce immigration laws Congress has already put in place, Texas will use every strategy to prevent illegal entry.

Long before Texas deployed these border barriers, the United Nations declared the US-Mexico border the most dangerous land crossing in the world.

Biden’s shameful disregard for American national security has emboldened Mexican drug cartels and transnational criminals like never before, starkly endangering American citizens and immigrants.

Who can forget the tragedy of last summer, when 53 immigrants died inside a tractor trailer while attempting to smuggle people near San Antonio?

More than 850 immigrants tragically died on US soil last year while trying to cross the border illegally. All of these deaths are at the hands of President Biden.

With countless immigrants killed, exploited, or trafficked, more than 1.5 million known people have slipped into the country illegally under Biden’s watch, including a record number of suspected terrorists.

Since I launched Operation Lone Star in March 2021 to fill dangerous gaps created by Biden’s reckless policies, our historic border security mission has arrested more than 401,000 illegal immigrants, detained more than 32,000 criminals, and seized more than 422 million lethal doses of fentanyl. More than enough to kill every man, woman, and child in America.

Transnational criminal organizations continue to find new, more insidious ways to operate multibillion-dollar smuggling businesses across our southern border, but Texas is fighting back.

I recently deployed floating sea barriers along the Rio Grande River as part of an intensified deterrence effort in Texas to support the increase in the number of Texas National Guard and Department of Public Safety soldiers patrolling our borders. We’ve also added miles of barbed wire.

These buoys help deter illegal river crossings, forcing migrants to use one of the 29 international bridges in Texas where they can claim asylum. And none of them drowned on the bridge.

Instead of protecting our nation’s sovereignty, Biden has abandoned his duty to secure the border. So Texas remains the first government entity in America to prevent illegal entry into our country.

We are the only ones standing up to the ruthless Mexican drug cartels who are waging war to control our borders.

And with $9.8 billion in Texas taxpayer dollars dedicated to border security, the state is the only party sending the message that our southern border is not open.

The Biden administration has left border states like Texas to fend for itself amid the escalating crisis, and is now abusing some vague laws to prevent Texas from using sea barriers to deter more illegal border crossings into our state.

But let me be clear: We will continue to deploy all legal tools and strategies to protect the citizens of Texas.

President Biden, Border Czar Kamala Harris, and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas have shown how ignorant and unconcerned they are about the chaos their administration has unleashed along America’s southern border.

Critics of the Texas border security mission have one thing right: The President has a constitutional responsibility to enforce existing federal immigration laws and protect the sovereignty of our homeland and the safety of our citizens.

Until then, Texas will not bow to relentless Mexican gangs or the forceful tactics of a careless administration. Mr. President, Texas will see you in court.

Greg Abbott is the governor of Texas.