Gov. Greg Abbott Invokes ‘Invasion Clauses’ To Beef Up Border Security

Texas governor Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that he has invoked the Invasion Clauses of the U.S. and Texas Constitutions in an effort to protect the Texas-Mexico border.

In a tweet, Abbott  explained that the move will “fully authorize Texas to take unprecedented measures to defend our state against an invasion.”

Abbott in July issued an executive order that authorized and empowered the Texas National Guard and DPS to arrest illegal aliens and return them to ports of entry.

Under Article IV Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution, known as the “Invasion Clause,”  law enforcement personnel are empowered to “repel and turn back” migrants trying to cross the border. The Invasion Clause states that the federal government “shall guarantee every state in this Union a republican form of government and shall protect each of them against invasion.”

The governor listed eight measures being used under constitutional authority to protect the border. Those measures include deploying the National Guard, gunboats, and Texas Dept. of Public Safety (DPS) to the border, as well as building the wall in multiple counties.

According to the latest DHS figures, nearly 2.4 million migrants crossed the border in the fiscal year ending in September—a 37 percent increase from the year before.  FBI Director Wray testified House Homeland Security Committee hearing Tuesday that the open border is a national security threat due to the drugs and guns crossing into the United States. Nonetheless, DHS Sec. continues to maintain that the border is “secure,” telling  Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) at the same hearing that DHS is “working day in and day out to enhance it’s security.”

 

Despite the threat posed by criminal drug cartels at the border, Wray refused to designate them as a terrorist organizations.

 

About Debra Heine

Debra Heine is a conservative Catholic mom of six and longtime political pundit. She has written for several conservative news websites over the years, including Breitbart and PJ Media.

Photo: KATY, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a 'Get Out The Vote' rally at the Fuzzy's Pizza & Italian Cafe on October 27, 2022 in Katy, Texas. With less than two weeks away from the midterm election, Gov. Greg Abbott continues campaigning across the state of Texas. Gov. Abbott is up against Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

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