Texas Governor Greg Abbott took what he called “an unprecedented step” on Thursday to protect the public by directing state entities to return migrants who entered the country illegally back to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Abbott announced in a news release that he has issued an executive order “authorizing and empowering” the Texas National Guard and the state’s Department of Public Safety to begin returning the illegal aliens to ports of entry.
“We are doing the unprecedented, and that is Texas law enforcement and National Guard—anybody they apprehend coming over the border illegally—they will be returning to the border,” Abbott declared on Fox news.
In addition to building the border wall & deploying Texas National Guard & State Troopers, Texas took further action today to secure the border.
In Biden's absence, we will continue to keep Texans & Americans safe.
No other state is doing more. pic.twitter.com/njOm5CxoLN
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 8, 2022
It was unclear from the executive order what state authorities would do with the illegal aliens once they were returned to the border, which are manned by federal immigration authorities.
The governor’s action comes several days after four border counties issued a joint statement declaring that the ongoing border crisis in Texas is equivalent to an “invasion.”
Abbott blamed the dire situation on the Biden regime’s open borders policies, including its decision to end the Trump administration–era Title 42 migrant expulsions and a policy commonly referred to as “Remain in Mexico.”
“While President Biden refuses to do his job and enforce the immigration laws enacted by Congress, the State of Texas is once again stepping up and taking unprecedented action to protect Americans and secure our southern border,” Abbott said in a statement. “The cartels have become emboldened and enriched by President Biden’s open border policies, smuggling in record numbers of people, weapons, and deadly drugs like fentanyl.”
I issued an Executive Order authorizing the Texas National Guard & Texas Dept. of Public Safety to return illegal immigrants to the border.
Cartels have become emboldened by Biden's open border policies.
Texas is taking unprecedented action to STOP this criminal enterprise. pic.twitter.com/ag08ACYP3Y
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 7, 2022
Earlier Thursday, Abbott announced an additional $30 million in grant funding to Texas border communities to boost their security efforts. “While Biden does nothing, Texas continues to help our communities respond,” the governor tweeted. “This funding plays a vital role in our mission to keep Texans safe & support communities.”
An additional $30M in grant funding is available to boost local border security efforts.
While Biden does nothing, Texas continues to help our communities respond.
This funding plays a vital role in our mission to keep Texans safe & support communities.https://t.co/P6BWpyiKxp
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 7, 2022
The Supreme Court ruled last week that Joe Biden could end the Remain in Mexico policy, which allowed U.S. authorities to send migrants without proper documentation back to Mexico to wait while their cases went through court proceedings.
Earlier this year, the governor announced a plan to send illegal aliens apprehended at the border on charter buses to Washington DC.
“To help local officials – because communities are being overwhelmed by hordes of illegal immigrants who are being dropped off by the Biden Administration – Texas is providing charter buses for these illegal immigrants who have been dropped off to Washington, D.C.,” Abbott said on April 6.
By mid June, the Texas Division of Emergency Management had spent $2.9 million “to send 1,778 immigrants to Washington D.C. at taxpayer expense,” the Center Square reported.