Texas Governor Greg Abbott is expanding southern border security as Congress can't reach an agreement for a massive federal immigration overhaul.
A comprehensive 370-page, $118 billion bill negotiated behind the scenes for months didn't make it out of the U.S. Senate earlier this week due to Republican opposition, namely due to a provision within the legislation requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to shut down the U.S. border only if migrant crossings exceeded a 5,000 daily average in any given week.
The bill also included foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
Along with not enough Senate Republicans galvanizing in support, the bill was deemed "dead on arrival" in the House by Speaker Mike Johnson once the text was released. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump also lambasted it, prompting questions of whether the GOP wants to pass border-related legislation before November due to the issue resonating among conservatives nationwide.
"In Texas, we've been able to achieve a decrease in illegal crossings only because of great teamwork," Abbott said Thursday at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, on the southern border. "Part of that teamwork is our partnership with the Texas National Guard, and we are currently working with the Texas Military Department to add more razor wire, anti-climb barrier, and personnel.
He added: "Working together, we will expand current operations in other parts of the border to decrease illegal immigration and ensure that we add more soldiers in the border region."
On Thursday, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry—who visited the border earlier this week—announced that his state would be sending National Guard troops to aid Texas, costing taxpayers an estimated $3 million.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has also expressed supporting Texas' border battle by potentially sending troops this fall, which could cost around $1 million per month once deployed.
Abbott said that he and his state are ready to challenge any legal opposition by the Biden administration.
Both entities have been involved in lawsuits recently, with the president recently garnering somewhat of a legal victory when the Supreme Court ruled that federal Border Patrol agents could remove razor wire placed by Texas troops.
"[Biden] does not need more laws," Abbott also said Thursday, according to Lubbock news station KCBD. "He has the tools in his toolbox to do exactly what Texas is doing, and that is to deny illegal entry into the country, which he is required to do by laws already passed by Congress.
"One reason this area is occupied by the State of Texas is to prevent the Biden Administration from any further violation of federal law on this Texas land."
Abbott also touted a dramatic decrease in migrant encounters in places like Shelby Park, which he said was once inundated by 2,000 to 4,000 migrants crossing illegally. The daily average has decreased to below 10 migrants, according to Abbott.
Prior to his press conference, Abbott held a security briefing with the Texas House of Representatives. The governor was joined by Texas DPS Deputy Director Freeman Martin, the Adjutant General of Texas, Major General Thomas Suelzer, and Texas Border Czar Mike Banks.
The group touted arresting more than 39,000 illegal immigrants and seizing more than 458 million lethal doses of fentanyl.
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Nick Mordowanec is a Newsweek reporter based in Michigan. His focus is reporting on Ukraine and Russia, along with social ... Read more
