In a display of interstate solidarity, Texas Governor Greg Abbott rallied the support of 13 fellow governors yesterday at a press conference in Eagle Pass, Texas. The coalition assembled to back the Lone Star State's initiative to secure the southern border in the wake of what these lawmakers see as the Biden Administration's failure to address illegal immigration, according to the Office of the Texas Governor.
"President Biden has abandoned his constitutional duty to protect Americans by refusing to secure our southern border," Abbott said. The bipartisan group, which includes governors from states as varied as Arkansas to Utah, accused Biden of letting a record number of illegal crossings occur under his watch. They allege a lawsuit by the federal government against Texas for its independent border security measures further exacerbates the issue.
The press conference doubled as an update platform for Texas's border security operations, with input from various state officials. Texas Department of Public Safety Deputy Director Freeman Martin reportedly disclosed that the state has seized over "458 million lethal doses of fentanyl—enough to kill every man, woman, child in America," as per Office of the Texas Governor.
Abbott's office noted that the visit to the border region followed a letter sent to President Biden, asserting Texas' constitutional right to defend itself as the Administration continues to "attack Texas" and neglect border security responsibilities. Now, a contingent of 14 states, stretching from Florida to Wyoming, have pledged support, deploying personnel and resources to the embattled border.
