Gov. Greg Abbott took a harsh stance against President Biden's latest immigration proposals, slamming the administration for failing to manage the situation at the southern border. In a statement released on Thursday, Abbott criticized Biden for dismantling what he called the "most secure border policies" and accused him of fostering the increase in illegal immigration.
"President Biden inherited the most secure border with the lowest illegal immigration since last century," Abbott said. With the stroke of a pen, he "proudly ended those secure border policies and opened the border to more than 11 million illegal immigrants from more than 150 different countries—including known terrorists, murderers, and rapists," according to a press release on the governor's official website.
Abbott, a vocal critic of the Biden administration's approach to border security, has been proactive in his own state. He referenced Texas' initiatives, such as the construction of a border wall and deployment of the Texas National Guard, as effective measures to reduce illegal border crossings. This starkly contrasts with the rising numbers in other border states, which Abbott suggests is a direct result of lax federal policies.
The statement from the Texas Governor describes Biden's latest moves as minimal and ineffective. "President Biden’s feckless proposals, which he could have done years ago, do nothing to slow the record-breaking illegal immigration." Abbott states that the President shirks the responsibility of enforcing existing laws—laws that he is, "not just authorized—he is required—to deny illegal entry, detain illegal immigrants, and build border barriers."
Amidst the political standoff, Abbott stands firm in his conviction that Texas' approach serves as a model to be followed. "Operation Lone Star is working, and President Biden would do well to follow our lead, or get out of the way," the governor asserted, taking a definitive stance on the state's efforts to counteract the immigration crisis. Biden and his team have yet to formally respond to Abbott's blistering critique.
