Carlos Garcia January 24, 2024 theblaze.com
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott defied President Joe Biden and asserted the right of his state to self-defense over the flood of illegal immigrants under his leadership.
The Biden administration garnered a court victory when the Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 that the U.S. Border Patrol was allowed to remove razor wire Texas placed on the border with Mexico to deter illegal immigration.
On Wednesday, Abbott said the state would continue to install razor wire and declared an invasion at the border to justify his actions.
He then released a lengthy statement explaining the legal justification for defying the federal government and the Supreme Court.
"The federal government has broken the compact between the United States and the States," wrote Abbott. "The Executive Branch of the United States has a constitutional duty to enforce federal laws protecting States, including immigration laws on the books right now. President Biden has refused to enforce those laws and has even violated them. The result is that he has smashed records for illegal immigration."
He went on to outline the ways that Biden had undermined border enforcement and claimed that Texas had the right to defend itself when the federal government failed to provide and support that protection.
"That authority is the supreme law of the land and supersedes any federal statutes to the contrary," Abbott continued. "The Texas National Guard, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and other Texas personnel are acting on that authority, as well as state law, to secure the Texas border."
"Their failure is an unconstitutional dereliction of duty."
Many on the right rushed to support Abbott's decision to defy federal power.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who suspended his presidential campaign on Sunday, released a statement in support of Abbott.
"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 DeSantis on social media. "TX is upholding the law while Biden is flouting it. FL will keep assisting Texas with personnel and assets."
Republican Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota said something similar.
"The Biden Administration has created a national security crisis and put Americans in danger," she wrote. "Their failure is an unconstitutional dereliction of duty. South Dakota has been proud to help Gov. Abbott’s efforts to secure our border."
"This is the right position," said Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas). "You have my full support to do what is necessary to protect Texas."
"Establish sole federal control of the Texas National Guard now.”
Democrats, on the other hand, criticized Abbott for not caving to the power of the federal government.
"There is nothing in the Constitution that allows a state to take on a federal role in the way Greg Abbott has," asserted Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Democrat from Texas, to KFOX-TV.
"I would love for Governor Abbott and the state legislature to be partners with all of us in this effort," she continued. "I would like them to put pressure on members of Congress to take action."
Democrat Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas called on the president to assert federal control over the Texas National Guard in order to reassert federal power.
“Governor Greg Abbott is using the Texas National Guard to obstruct and create chaos at the border,” he posted on social media. “If Abbott is defying yesterday's Supreme Court ruling, @POTUS needs to establish sole federal control of the Texas National Guard now.”
Former Democrat candidate Beto O'Rourke also posted support for Biden to seize control of the National Guard.
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