As the U.S. Congress remains deadlocked on major immigration reform, Texas Governor Greg Abbott is taking steps to bolster border security in the south.
Senate Impasse
The Senate recently failed to pass a meticulously negotiated 370-page, $118 billion bill, mainly due to Republican opposition.
This opposition centered on a provision requiring the Homeland Security Department to only close the border if migrant crossings averaged over 5,000 daily in a week.
Uncertain Future
The Senate made a significant step forward on Thursday in progressing with President Joe Biden’s substantial aid proposal for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, breaking through months of stagnant discussions.
However, despite potential Senate approval of the $95 billion bill in the near future, its outcome in the House remains unclear.
67-32 Vote
The Senate vote of 67-32 surpassed the initial procedural challenge to move the bill forward, which also allocates extra funds for the submarine-industrial base, the U.S. Central Command, and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
Bill ‘Dead on Arrival’
Lacking sufficient support from Senate Republicans and declared ‘dead on arrival’ in the House by Speaker Mike Johnson, the bill faced further criticism from Donald Trump, the leading Republican presidential candidate.
Election Year and Border Security
This has raised doubts about the GOP’s commitment to passing border legislation before the November elections, considering its significance among conservative voters across the country.
Texas Governor’s Update
Governor Greg Abbott of Texas highlighted the state’s success in reducing illegal border crossings, attributing it to effective collaboration during his speech on Thursday at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, a southern border location.
Increased Border Defenses
“Part of that teamwork is our partnership with the Texas National Guard, and we are currently working with the Texas Military Department to add more razor wire, anti-climb barrier, and personnel,” Abbott stated.
Abbott Vows More Troops
The governor continued, “Working together, we will expand current operations in other parts of the border to decrease illegal immigration and ensure that we add more soldiers in the border region.”
National Guard Deployment
Further bolstering these efforts, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, after a recent border visit, announced the dispatch of National Guard troops to Texas, an initiative costing about $3 million to Louisiana taxpayers.
Alaska’s Governor Mike Dunleavy is considering similar support, with potential troop deployment this fall at an estimated cost of $1 million monthly.
Texas Prepared
Amidst these developments, Abbott declared Texas’s readiness to counter any legal objections from the Biden administration.
This statement follows a recent legal development where the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the federal government, allowing Border Patrol agents to remove razor wire placed by Texas forces.
Biden’s Immigration Policy
“[Biden] does not need more laws,” Abbott stated Thursday. “He has the tools in his toolbox to do exactly what Texas is doing, and that is to deny illegal entry into the country, which he is required to do by laws already passed by Congress.
State vs. Federal
He added, “One reason this area is occupied by the State of Texas is to prevent the Biden Administration from any further violation of federal law on this Texas land.”
Drop in Migrant Encounters
Governor Greg Abbott proudly pointed out a significant reduction in migrant encounters at places like Shelby Park, a location previously overwhelmed by 2,000 to 4,000 illegal crossings.
According to Abbott, this figure has now dropped to an average of fewer than 10 migrants per day.
Officials Discuss Border Security
Before his press conference, Abbott conducted a security briefing with members of the Texas House of Representatives.
Accompanying him were Texas DPS Deputy Director Freeman Martin, Major General Thomas Suelzer, the Adjutant General of Texas, and Texas Border Czar Mike Banks.
Collaborative Efforts
The team highlighted their achievements, including the apprehension of over 39,000 illegal immigrants and the seizure of upwards of 458 million lethal doses of fentanyl.
Trump’s Influence
This legislative development follows the Democrats’ decision to remove immigration policy revisions from a bill after two months of negotiation.
This removal occurred after Senate Republicans, who initially made these changes a condition for approving foreign aid, reversed their stance following former President Donald Trump’s criticism of the proposed immigration-foreign aid linkage.
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