In a move reminiscent of a political wildfire, former President Donald Trump has stepped into the intensifying standoff between the federal government and Texas, urging “all willing states” to deploy their National Guard forces to the Lone Star State.
In a series of social media posts shared on Thursday night, Trump called for a united front to “prevent the entry of illegals and remove them back across the border.” The call comes as Texas Governor Greg Abbott revealed that ten governors have already responded by sending National Guard or other law enforcement resources to aid in border security.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt confirmed his commitment to dispatching National Guard soldiers to Texas during a Friday interview on Fox News, stating that preparations are already underway. This decision follows Stitt’s recent discussion about the potential for a “force-on-force conflict” at the border during an appearance on Newsmax.
Stitt is part of a coalition of 25 red state governors expressing solidarity with Abbott, who continues to defy a recent Supreme Court ruling affirming federal jurisdiction over border enforcement. The 5-4 ruling allowed Border Control to dismantle miles of razor wire erected by Texas forces along the Rio Grande and around Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, a hotspot for unauthorized border crossings.
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Two weeks prior, the Texas National Guard took control of Shelby Park, obstructing Border Control’s access and, according to reports, impeding their ability to conduct rescue missions. The Biden Administration placed blame on Texas after a migrant woman and two children tragically drowned.
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, Abbott has intensified border enforcement activities and accused the Biden Administration of neglecting its constitutional duty to protect states from “invasion.” Abbott cited a dissenting opinion from the 2012 Supreme Court case Arizona v. United States, arguing that states have constitutional authority to protect themselves if the federal government fails to do so.
Legal experts, such as Cori Alonso-Yoder, an associate professor at George Washington University Law School, question the legal basis of Abbott’s assertions, suggesting that his statement may be more about political theater than a supported legal theory.
The Department of Homeland Security has set a deadline for Abbott to allow Border Patrol access to Shelby Park by Friday. However, on the ground, reports indicate that the Texas National Guard is reinforcing razor wire and showing no signs of compliance.
In addition to the 25 supportive governors, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson have expressed their backing for Abbott. Some Democrats are calling on President Joe Biden to federalize the Texas National Guard, a move Abbott countered by threatening to deploy armed state employees and other law enforcement to the border.
Amidst the escalating tensions, a group of protesters self-identifying as an “army of God” is preparing to travel to the southern border, intending to reach Eagle Pass and two other border cities in Arizona and California by February 3rd. The situation continues to unfold against a backdrop of political maneuvering and border policy clashes.
