From the Texas House to former President Donald Trump, Republicans across the country are rallying behind Gov. Greg Abbott’s legal standoff with the federal government at the southern border, intensifying concerns about a constitutional crisis amid an ongoing dispute with the Biden administration.
The Texas National Guard has been using concertina wire as a barrier between the Rio Grande and Shelby Park, a 47acre area in Eagle Pass.
In a 5-4 decision earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the Biden Administration when it vacated a lower court’s ruling that prevented Border Patrol agents from cutting the wire to apprehend people who had crossed the river.
'President Biden has violated his oath to faithfully execute immigration laws enacted by Congress,' Abbott said in a statement.
'Instead of prosecuting immigrants for the federal crime of illegal entry, President Biden has sent his lawyers into federal courts to sue Texas for taking action to secure the border.'
Abbott continued, claiming the state’s right to defend itself “is the supreme law of the land and supersedes any federal statutes to the contrary.”
Abbott’s action is the latest effort by Texas Republicans who have been pushing back against the federal government and trying to take on the role of immigration law enforcement, which is under federal jurisdiction.
Abbott’s statement was quickly condemned by some legal scholars, who said it was blatantly unconstitutional and amounted to a usurping of the federal government.
Here are some of the offi cials who are supporting Ab- bott:
• Trump chimed in Thursday afternoon on his Truth Social platform and encouraged other states to deploy their national guards to Texas.
• During a Fox News interview U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz was asked if this was a “Come-andtake- it, Alamo moment,” Cruz responded: "Absolutely. We're defending Texas and defending this country.”
• All but one Republican governor – Phil Scott of Vermont D OWNEN — had publicly supported Abbott’s move.
• House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana also expressed support.
• U.S. Rep. Chip Roy openly called for Abbott to defy the Supreme Court, facing criticism of advocating for a rebellion against the federal government.
• Abbott even earned accolades from his occasional critics on the far right, including Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi who called Abbott’s statement “strong,” and added “we are with you,” on social media.
Meanwhile, Democrats in the Texas delegation expressed horror at Abbott's defiance.
“Governor Abbott is trying to pick a fight with President Biden to score political points, and he is abusing the National Guard resources at his disposal,” U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, said in a statement. “Texas National Guard troops volunteered to serve their country – not to be pawns in Governor Abbott’s attempts to sow chaos at the border.”
