Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is pushing back against threats of legal action from the Department of Justice (DOJ), accusing President Joe Biden of flouting US immigration law and violating the constitutional rights of states.
With the Biden administration attempting to crack down on illegal immigration, tensions between the executive branch and the Lone Star State are escalating. Following the state’s deployment of a floating buoy barrier in the Rio Grande River in Eagle Pass, the DOJ sent a letter to Abbott accusing him of breaking the law.
Abbott, however, isn’t backing down.
In response to the DOJ’s threat, the Republican governor issued a letter to the Democrats’ leader accusing him of contributing to the border crisis “with your open-border policies, which encourages migrants to risk their lives by crossing illegally through the water, instead of safely and legally at a port of entry.”
Abbott further declared that “Texas will see you in court, Mr. President.”
Speaking on the issue, Abbott argued that while there is humanitarian concern over the situation the US-Mexican border, the finger needs to be pointed in the right direction if the crisis is to be overcome.
“Texas will fully utilize its constitutional authority to deal with the crisis you have caused,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Abbott has apparently dug in his heels, claiming he intends to keep the barrier in place to deter illegal immigration.
The letter arrives as part of a string of messages Abbott sent Biden about the matter. In November and January, the governor sent the president two letters that outlined the economic and security tolls the border crisis presents to the state.
In early June, Abbott finally received a response from the president – -by hand –- while the president visited the southern border. Abbott responded with yet another letter, however, it appears his concerns weren’t addressed by the president’s policy suggestions.
As tensions between the two leaders come to a head, only time will tell if Abbott’s moves to protect his state – and the nation – against the immigration crisis will pay off.
