Texas Governor Abbott Asserts State’s Right to Self-Defense Amid Feud with Biden Administration over Border Security
In a bold proclamation, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has asserted the Lone Star State’s right to self-defense, stating that it “supersedes any federal statutes to the contrary.” This declaration comes in the midst of an ongoing feud between the state and the Biden administration over border security.
The tension between Texas and the federal government escalated when the state laid razor wire across the US-Mexico border, despite a Supreme Court ruling allowing the federal government to remove it. Governor Abbott defended this action, arguing that the federal government has failed to protect Texas from an invasion of illegal immigrants, giving the state constitutional authority to defend itself.
Abbott emphasized that this authority is “the supreme law of the land” and overrides any conflicting federal statutes. However, the Supreme Court recently ruled in a 5-4 decision that federal agents can remove the razor wire placed at sections of the border.
The Biden administration claimed that this authority was necessary to ensure that border officials can respond to emergencies without hindrance. However, Texas laid down the wire as a deterrent for migrants attempting to cross high-trafficked areas. Last year, the state sued the Biden administration to prevent the cutting of the wire.
Despite the ruling, Governor Abbott made it clear that Texas will continue to deploy razor wire to repel illegal immigration. He did not mention the ongoing feud over the wire in his statement on Texas’ right to self-defense but accused President Biden of failing to enforce immigration laws and even violating them.
Governor Abbott highlighted the staggering number of illegal immigrants crossing the southern border, stating that over 6 million have crossed in just three years—more than the population of 33 different states in the country. According to preliminary data from the US Customs and Border Control, there were over 300,000 migrant encounters recorded in December 2023 alone, marking a record-breaking year.
Abbott has been pushing the boundaries of state power to combat the border crisis. Through Operation Lone Star, his administration claims to have transported over 100,000 migrants to blue cities and apprehended over 496,000 illegal immigrants.
This ongoing feud is not the first clash between Governor Abbott and the Biden administration over immigration policy. Earlier this month, the administration threatened to sue Texas if the state detained illegal immigrants using state law. Texas has a law set to take effect in March that authorizes such detentions. The Justice Department has also sued Texas over its use of a floating barrier in the Rio Grande, but Texas recently won a victory in an appeals court.
In another effort to impede migrants, Texas authorities recently cordoned off a park in Eagle Pass, preventing unauthorized Border Patrol agents and migrants from entering.
The Post reached out to the White House and the Department of Homeland Security for comment on this ongoing dispute between Texas and the Biden administration.
Governor Abbott’s assertion of Texas’ right to self-defense highlights the growing frustration among states regarding border security. As the border crisis continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how this feud will impact immigration policies and the relationship between the federal government and individual states.
