Texas Governor Declares “Invasion” at Southern Border, Blames Biden’s Policies
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has made a bold declaration, referring to the surge in illegal immigration as an “invasion” at the southern border. He squarely places the blame on President Joe Biden’s policies for the influx and has taken action by ordering the National Guard and local law enforcement to assist in dealing with the crisis.
In a powerful statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, Governor Abbott wrote, “I officially declared an invasion at our border because of Biden’s policies” on September 20.
The governor has wasted no time in implementing measures to address the situation. He has deployed the Texas National Guard, DPS, and local law enforcement, while also initiating the construction of a border wall, complete with razor wire and marine barriers.
Furthermore, Governor Abbott boldly states, “We are also repelling migrants.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a news conference at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, on June 8, 2023. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
In 2021, Governor Abbott made a promise to construct a border wall along the Texas-Mexico border as part of a comprehensive plan to enhance border security. This commitment included a significant allocation of $1 billion in the state budget.
During a news conference on June 10, 2021, he emphasized that the border wall, along with increased arrests of illegal border crossers, would effectively reduce the flow of unauthorized immigrants into Texas.
Governor Abbott has been providing regular updates on the progress of the border wall initiative. He shared a video on X on September 12, showing the barrier being lifted into place by a crane in the Del Rio sector. Additionally, he issued a statement on September 15, reaffirming his commitment to the construction of the border wall.
Letter to Biden
In his September 20 post on X, Governor Abbott not only declared an ”invasion” and pledged to build more border wall, but he also shared a letter he had sent to President Biden in November 2022. In the letter, he accused the president of inaction despite the border crisis that was already in full swing at the time.
“Your inaction has led to catastrophic consequences,” Governor Abbott wrote in the letter, adding, “Under your watch, America is suffering the highest volume of illegal immigration in the history of our country.”
At the time of writing the letter, data indicated that over 2 million people had attempted to enter the United States illegally in the previous 12 months.
“Texans are paying a price for your failure,” Governor Abbott expressed, highlighting the damage to ranches and the vulnerability of homes to intrusion.
Illegal immigrants walk in the Rio Grande between a floating fence and the river bank as they look for an opening in the concertina wire fence to land on U.S. soil in Eagle Pass, Texas, on July 24, 2023. (Go Nakamura/Reuters)
Governor Abbott argues that the Biden administration has failed to fulfill its constitutional obligation to protect individual states against invasion. He joins other Republicans in holding President Biden’s messaging and policies responsible for the unprecedented border crisis.
“Before you took office, the United States experienced some of the lowest illegal immigration figures in decades,” Governor Abbott wrote in his letter to the president. He further accused the administration of dismantling the policies that had contributed to those low numbers and urged President Biden to reinstate them or introduce new measures to secure the border.
Citing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, House Republicans highlighted in a statement on September 20 that there have been over 5.8 million illegal crossings at the southern border since President Biden assumed office. They also revealed that approximately 1.6 million illegal immigrants have evaded capture, according to Border Patrol sources.
In July alone, there were 183,503 encounters with illegal immigrants at the U.S.–Mexico border, representing a 27 percent increase from June, as stated in the Republican lawmakers’ release.
“July marked the 29th consecutive month with higher illegal immigrant encounters than any month during President Trump’s tenure,” the statement emphasized, underscoring the strain the United States is facing due to this “historic and unprecedented crisis” at the border.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication.
Former President Donald Trump has also held the Biden administration accountable for the surge in illegal border crossings.
In a video posted on Truth Social, President Trump asserted, “Under my leadership, we had the most secure border in U.S. history so far. We replaced catch-and-release with detain-and-deport. One of my most successful policies was Title 42, which allowed for instant expulsion of any illegal alien who crossed our borders. Anybody. If they were bad, we got them out. We got them out fast.”
The Title 42 public health order, implemented during President Trump’s tenure, granted the government the authority to expel illegal immigrants automatically.
“Those who trespass into our country could immediately be sent back to the place from which they came. Every would-be illegal border crosser knew that with Donald Trump in the White House, our border was closed. It was absolutely closed. They had no chance of getting in,” President Trump emphasized.
“And therefore, they didn’t come.”
However, the situation has drastically changed, with a significant influx of illegal immigrants prompting the border town of Eagle Pass, Texas, to declare a state of emergency.
Many migrants are coming through the U.S.–Mexico border through a remote portion of the Arizona desert, as explained on Sept. 1, 2023, by Deputy Chief Justin De La Torre, Tucson Sector Border Patrol. (Associated Press/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)
Emergency Declared in Eagle Pass
Mayor Rolando Salinas Jr. of Eagle Pass has issued an emergency declaration due to a “severe” surge in illegal immigration.
On September 19, Mayor Salinas signed the order, officially declaring a state of disaster for the city of Eagle Pass. The declaration will remain in effect for at least seven days and may be extended if the crisis persists.
The approximately 30,000 residents of Eagle Pass have been overwhelmed by the sudden influx of thousands of illegal immigrants, which is part of a broader surge of unauthorized border crossings.
Border Patrol agents escort illegal immigrants onto a bus to be taken to a processing facility in Eagle Pass, Texas, on June 25, 2023. (Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images)
During a news conference on September 19, Mayor Salinas estimated that around 2,500 individuals had crossed into Eagle Pass illegally on September 17 and into the early hours of September 18. However, he cautioned that this number was not an official count.
Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber reported that an additional 2,700 migrants crossed at Eagle Pass on September 19, followed by another 3,000 on September 20.
Despite a request for the latest estimates of border crossings into Eagle Pass, the Texas Department of Public Safety did not respond at the time of publication.
“The City of Eagle Pass is committed to the safety and well-being of our local citizens,” Mayor Salinas stated in the emergency declaration. This declaration enables the city to seek federal and state resources to alleviate some of the strain caused by the influx of undocumented immigrants.
“The emergency declaration grants us the ability to request financial resources to provide the additional services caused by the influx of the undocumented immigrants,” he added.
Due to the limited capacity of the only shelter in Eagle Pass, large numbers of asylum seekers have been seen on the streets, as reported by Texas Public Radio.
The CBP announced that it would temporarily suspend vehicle processing operations at a bridge and railway crossing in Eagle Pass, redirecting those resources to apprehend individuals crossing the border illegally.
“In response to this influx in encounters, we will continue to surge all available resources to expeditiously and safely process migrants,” stated the CBP in a released statement.
“We will maximize consequences against those without a legal basis to remain in the United States. CBP will continue to prioritize our border security mission as necessary in response to this evolving situation.”
Amidst the surge in illegal border crossings, the Department of Defense is increasing resources at the U.S.–Mexico border. Department of Homeland Security officials confirmed that approximately 800 new active-duty personnel are being deployed to the border.
During the night of September 20, a DHS official revealed that over 8,000 apprehensions occurred along the southern border on September 18. However, no explanation was provided for the cause of this latest surge.
The economy, strain on resources, and the increase in criminal activity stemming from the uncontrolled flow of illegal immigrants.
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– How does the strain on resources due to illegal immigration affect local communities?
The strain on resources due to illegal immigration can have various impacts on local communities. Some of the ways it affects them include:
1. Economic burden: Illegal immigration can place a significant strain on local economies. Local communities may face increased pressure on limited resources such as healthcare, education, and social welfare programs. This can lead to a higher tax burden on residents or budget cuts in other areas.
2. Job competition: The presence of undocumented immigrants, who are often willing to work for lower wages, can create competition for jobs within the community. This can result in lower wages and job opportunities for local workers.
3. Overcrowded infrastructure: The additional population from illegal immigration can strain infrastructure, including housing, transportation, and public services. Overcrowding can lead to increased traffic congestion, longer wait times for services, and inadequate access to affordable housing.
4. Education challenges: Local schools may face challenges due to an influx of new students, particularly those who require language, cultural, or specialized support services. This can stretch school resources, resulting in larger class sizes, limited resources for other students, and a potential decline in educational quality.
5. Strain on healthcare systems: Undocumented immigrants often lack access to affordable healthcare, leading to higher demands on emergency services and hospitals that are obligated to provide care regardless of immigration status. This can increase wait times, overcrowding, and costs for local communities.
6. Social tensions: The strain on resources from illegal immigration can sometimes exacerbate social tensions within a community. Some residents may view the presence of unauthorized immigrants as a threat to their economic well-being or may hold negative attitudes towards immigrants in general, which can lead to social divisions and conflicts.
It is important to note that the impact of illegal immigration on local communities can vary depending on various factors such as the size of the immigrant population, community resources, and local government policies. Additionally, while there may be negative consequences, there can also be positive contributions from immigrants, such as cultural diversity and entrepreneurship.
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