On Monday, Governor Greg Abbott of Texas issued a strong message to sanctuary cities, asserting that his state will persist in transporting migrants to these areas until the federal government addresses the escalating border crisis.
“Texas has transported over 102,000 migrants to sanctuary cities. Overwhelmed Texas border towns should not bear the brunt of Biden’s open border policies. Our transportation mission will continue until Biden secures the border,” Abbott wrote in a post on X.
Abbott’s commitment arises in the midst of his dispute with the Biden administration regarding border enforcement. The contention revolves around whether Texas possesses the authority to protect itself from the surging influx of migrants that is straining law enforcement and immigration officials.
The two factions have been in conflict since 2021, triggered by the escalation of the migrant crisis and Texas initiating Operation Lone Star to deploy additional resources to the border.
Recently, the administration filed lawsuits against an anti-illegal immigration law that empowers state and local law enforcement to apprehend illegal immigrants. Another lawsuit was filed regarding Texas placing buoys in the Rio Grande. The administration argues that immigration enforcement falls under federal jurisdiction, and Texas is perceived as interfering.
In a recent development, the Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision on an emergency appeal, temporarily lifted a lower court’s injunction.
This injunction had prohibited the federal government from removing razor fencing installed by Texas along the border near Eagle Pass while the legal proceedings are ongoing.
After the court’s decision, Abbott asserted his state’s constitutional right to self-defense against an invasion, claiming that the executive branch had violated the constitutional agreement with the states by neglecting to enforce federal immigration laws.
Former President Donald Trump endorsed Abbott on Thursday in the midst of Abbott’s conflict with the Biden administration.
Trump urged states to deploy their National Guards to the border and pledged to collaborate closely with the state to address the perceived “invasion” if he is re-inaugurated in January 2025.
Additionally, Abbott garnered support from over two dozen Republican states that publicly backed his position. Meanwhile, some Democrats have called on the Biden administration to take control of the National Guard.
