The border crisis hasn’t gone anywhere – it’s still a disaster the Democrats seem to be turning a blind eye to, no matter how many pleas for assistance border state governors have sent toward the Biden administration. Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) has already implemented procedures to help deal with the stream of illegal immigrants crossing into the country. Wednesday, Oct. 7, he met with several other governors to discuss additional ways to strengthen the southern border.
The meeting/press conference was held in Mission, TX, with nine other state governors in attendance. The group formed a ten-point plan for President Biden. "The Biden administration's open border policies have led to complete chaos at the southern border and pose a threat to the safety of Texans and all Americans," Abbott said. He continued:
"Texas has stepped up to keep our communities safe and mitigate this crisis ourselves, and our efforts have been made stronger by the support and assistance of governors from across the nation. I thank the state governors who are here with me today for their support and for visiting the border to see firsthand the ramifications of President Biden's disastrous policies. Together, we are sending a strong message to the Biden Administration that we will not tolerate their refusal to secure the border — and we will continue to do whatever it takes to keep our communities safe."
According to Governor Abbott’s website, the ten-point plan includes:
Continue Title 42 public health restrictions.
Fully reinstate the Migrant Protection Protocols.
Finish securing the border.
End catch and release.
Clear the judicial backlog.
Resume the deportation of all criminals.
Dedicate federal resources to eradicate human trafficking and drug trafficking.
Re-enter all agreements with our Northern Triangle partners and Mexico.
Send a clear message to potential migrants.
Deploy more federal law enforcement officers.
Greg Abbott
(Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Abbott discussed his own program for Texas, Operation Lone Star, which has provided $3 billion funding for security along the state’s border, deployment of thousands of National Guard as well as public safety officers. It also created a system to arrest and jail illegal immigrants who manage to get into the state.
Last month, thousands of illegals, presumed to be predominately Haitians, overwhelmed border patrol officers at Del Rio. This was after 26 governors sent a letter to the president asking for a meeting to discuss border security – to which Biden has yet to respond. So, with no aid, assistance, or even a response from the White House, governors from across the country gathered to try and make something happen. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey (R) was the first to join the Lone Star State’s fight a few months ago and made his opinion known during the meeting:
"We’re not going to sit around while Biden refuses to act. We’ve tried to meet with the president and be part of the solution, but he refuses. No, worse — he ignores us, just like he’s ignoring the border and the well-being of the American people. If the president won’t meet with us, then we’ll share our policy ideas today. Hopefully he will hear our solutions and begin to act."
While illegal immigration is a serious concern, human and drug trafficking occurrences are climbing at an alarming rate. Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw explained:
“When we see this type of mass influx of migrants to our state, the cartels profit by exploiting the situation. Unless we act, there is no stopping them from reaching communities across the country with their drugs and violence. Governor Abbott has made it very clear; Texas is going to lean forward and take a stand. We are grateful for his leadership and the continued support of our partners, both here in our state and across the country, in making sure we secure our southern border."
Abbott and Ducey were joined by the governors from Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wyoming. Efforts to get Biden’s attention have so far failed for the Republican lawmakers; it remains to be seen whether this newest press conference, which outlines specific steps to alleviate some of the border problems, will gain the president’s ear.
~ Read more from Kelli Ballard.
