Governor Greg Abbott (R-Texas) told former Fox News host Tucker Carlson Friday that ten states have already sent National Guard troops or other law enforcement members to the southern border to aid Texas in the face of growing pressure from President Joe Biden’s administration to allow Border Patrol agents to remove razor-wire barriers the state installed to deter illegal immigrants from pouring into the state.
During Friday’s interview with Carlson, Abbott said he would be surprised if any of the 25 Republican states that have pledged to support his state did not send additional assistance.
“There have been about 10 [states] so far that have sent National Guard or other law enforcement,” Abbott said. “They now are joined together with us, and this is a fight for the future of America.”
On Thursday, 25 Republican governors issued a joint statement in support of Texas. The Republican governors criticized the Biden administration for “refusing to enforce immigration laws” in the United States and for “allowing mass parole across America of migrants who entered our country illegally.” The 25 Republican governors pledged to “stand in solidarity” with Texas and its use of “every tool and strategy” to secure the southern border.
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Asked Friday about the possibility of the Biden administration attempting to seize control of the Texas National Guard, Abbott said the state is “prepared” for any potential confrontation.
“I’ll be shocked; that would be a boneheaded move on his part, a total disaster,” he said. “For one, as you might imagine, we are prepared in the event that that unlikely event does occur to make sure that we will be able to continue exactly what we have been doing the past month.”
Abbott explained that in addition to the Texas National Guard, Texas has other “armed state employees” currently deployed on the border. The Texas governor noted that members of the Texas Department of Public Safety, other Texas law enforcement officers, and National Guardsmen from other states are currently working to prevent illegal immigrants from crossing the border.
Abbott added, “And you can be assured there’ll be more national guard from other states and more law enforcement officers within the state of Texas and other states.”
