AUSTIN, Texas — Republican governors from across the country have rushed in to defend and support fellow GOP Gov. Greg Abbott as he treads further into one of his biggest battles yet, taking on the Biden White House over the chaos at the southern border.
Governors have mounted a full-force campaign on Abbott’s behalf, coming out publicly to say they stand shoulder to shoulder with the embattled Texas leader, an unspoken warning to the Biden administration of the enormous support for the state’s recent actions to lock down part of its border.
Abbott issued a fiery statement Thursday that blamed Washington for abdicating its constitutional responsibility of defending the states at the international border and laid out his case for why the state was justified in its recent actions to commandeer 2.5 miles of border adjacent city land in Eagle Pass in an effort to prevent immigrants from illegally crossing.
Abbott appeared on Fox News on Thursday morning and slammed Washington for “really, truly” abdicating its responsibility of maintaining an international boundary.
“Because the Biden administration has really, truly abdicated its responsibility to secure the border and enforce the laws, Texas, very simply, is securing the border,” Abbott said in the interview. “There are criminals coming across our border. Texas has a right as a state to stop criminals from coming into our state, to make arrests of those criminals, and we have National Guard as well as Department of Public Safety officers who are there to make those arrests and to deny illegal entry.
“And Joe Biden actually does have an option here,” said Abbott. “Joe Biden’s option is to enforce the laws of the United States and stop this illegal entry.”
The Biden Administration has truly abdicated its responsibility to enforce the immigration laws on the books.
Texas has a constitutional right to defend and protect itself.
We will continue to hold the line. pic.twitter.com/LFrTq2MoVY
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 25, 2024
But Democrats in Texas have called for the Biden administration to rein in Abbott and accused him of over-stepping his legal authority on a matter that can only be taken up by federal authorities.
Austin-area Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) called Abbott’s actions nothing more than “political stunts” and “inflammatory language to advance his own agenda, violating the Constitution and endangering both U.S. citizens and asylum seekers,” in a post to X.
Rep. Joaquín Castro of San Antonio proposed having the Biden administration legally overtake the Texas National Guard so that soldiers can no longer carry out orders by the governor.
“Governor Greg Abbott is using the Texas National Guard to obstruct and create chaos at the border,” Castro posted to X on Tuesday. “If Abbott is defying yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling, @POTUS needs to establish sole federal control of the Texas National Guard now.”
“I agree with @JoaquinCastrotx: if Abbott is defying yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling, @POTUS needs to establish sole federal control of the Texas National Guard,” Casar agreed.
Former El Paso Rep. Beto O’Rourke accused Abbott of using the state military to “defy a Supreme Court ruling,” a reference to the decision earlier this week that allowed federal Border Patrol agents to cut through state-installed razor wire at the border. However, federal agents have been locked out of the border in Eagle Pass for two weeks, leaving them unable to cut away wire or apprehend immigrants.
Despite warnings and complaints from some Democrats, Republican governors have indicated that they will stick by Abbott’s side.
The Washington Examiner has compiled an alphabetical list of GOP governors who have publicly come out in support of Abbott.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey
Second-termer Ivey gave a fiery response to Abbott’s letter, stating that she had “had enough” with the border crisis, which has resulted in a record-breaking 8 million immigrants encountered at the nation’s borders since President Joe Biden took office.
“Texas and the states have stepped up time and time again. The White House? Purposely absent. I have had enough,” Ivey wrote on X. “Texas, you can count on Alabama to have your back.”
Texas and the states have stepped up time and time again. The White House? Purposely absent. I have had enough.
Texas, you can count on Alabama to have your back. https://t.co/vtOidjhvRo
— Kay Ivey (@kayiveyforgov) January 25, 2024
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders
The former White House press secretary said Arkansas would continue to stand alongside Texas in its fight against the federal government.
“If President Biden won’t defend us, states will have to defend themselves. Arkansas stands with Texas,” Sanders wrote in a post to X Thursday afternoon.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
DeSantis sent and continues to send state law enforcement to Texas to assist Texas authorities with apprehending illegal immigrants and human smugglers coming across the border.
DeSantis, who is now back in Florida following his run for the Republican presidential nominee, delivered an on-the-fly reaction to Abbott’s dilemma and said the state was in its right to defend itself.
“Can the federal government defy the law and force a state to allow a foreign invasion. James Madison didn’t think so…” DeSantis wrote in a post to X.
“If the Constitution really made states powerless to defend themselves against an invasion, it wouldn’t have been ratified in the first place and Texas would have never joined the union when it did,” said DeSantis in another post. “TX is upholding the law while Biden is flouting it. FL will keep assisting Texas with personnel and assets.”
If the Constitution really made states powerless to defend themselves against an invasion, it wouldn’t have been ratified in the first place and Texas would have never joined the union when it did.
TX is upholding the law while Biden is flouting it.
FL will keep assisting… https://t.co/qOJY2zT1hG
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 24, 2024
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp
The Peach State governor gave a frustrated response on X to the challenges that the state has faced since 2021.
“Enough is enough. Our southern border is in crisis thanks to the Biden administration’s refusal to do their job,” said Kemp. “@GregAbbott_TX and the state of Texas have our full support.”
Idaho Gov. Brad Little
Little promised that his northern border state would “step up” absent additional action from the White House and Biden administration
“The lawless southern border threatens the lives of all Americans, including Idahoans. Idaho is proud to support @GregAbbott_TX’s efforts to secure the border, fight fentanyl, and combat human trafficking. Idaho will continue to step up, even when @POTUS won’t,” Little wrote on X Thursday morning.
The lawless southern border threatens the lives of all Americans, including Idahoans.
Idaho is proud to support @GregAbbott_TX’s efforts to secure the border, fight fentanyl, and combat human trafficking.
Idaho will continue to step up, even when @POTUS won’t. https://t.co/WpKub9E9Jn
— Brad Little (@GovernorLittle) January 25, 2024
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry
Landry’s state was one of three whose attorneys general testified in Congress earlier this month about the negative implications of the border crisis. Landry pledged to support Texas.
“We stand with Governor Abbott in reminding the federal government under our Constitution, states are still sovereign. We have the right to protect our citizens,” Landry said in a video post on X Thursday.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte
Gianforte applauded Abbott for taking action and criticized the Biden administration for allowing criminal networks to use the vulnerable international boundary to its advantage.
“Governor @GregAbbott_TX is doing what @POTUS won’t. By refusing to act, President Biden is inviting cartels, illegal drugs, and human trafficking into the United States,” said Gianforte. “We must secure the southern border.”
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen
First-termer Pillen previously deployed state military and police down to the Texas border at Abbott’s request in 2023 and said on Thursday that he still stands with Abbott.
“The failure to secure our border has created a massive flow of illegal drugs, national security and terrorism risks, and a humanitarian crisis,” said Pillen. “I was proud to order Nebraska State Troopers and National Guard to the border last year, and Nebraska is proud to stand with Texas now.”
The failure to secure our border has created a massive flow of illegal drugs, national security and terrorism risks, and a humanitarian crisis. I was proud to order Nebraska State Troopers and National Guard to the border last year, and Nebraska is proud to stand with Texas now. https://t.co/uALSOhdIup
— Governor Jim Pillen (@TeamPillen) January 25, 2024
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum
The former 2024 GOP presidential candidate announced on Twitter Thursday afternoon that “North Dakota stands with Texas!”
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt
Second-term governor Stitt kept it simple and sweet: “Oklahoma stands with Texas,” as he shared a video of Texas National Guard soldiers walking to the border.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem
Noem defended Abbott in several posts to X and said Abbott was “exactly right” to take action at the border.
“@GregAbbott_TX is exactly right to invoke Texas’ constitutional authority to defend itself,” said Noem. “The Biden Administration has created a national security crisis and put Americans in danger. Their failure is an unconstitutional dereliction of duty. South Dakota has been proud to help Gov. Abbott’s efforts to secure our border.”
.@GregAbbott_TX is exactly right to invoke Texas’ constitutional authority to defend itself.
The Biden Administration has created a national security crisis and put Americans in danger. Their failure is an unconstitutional dereliction of duty.
South Dakota has been proud to… https://t.co/s4NMyvyu3Y
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) January 24, 2024
“I hope Texas law allows law enforcement and public safety officials to use all legal methods up to and including necessary force to stop people from crossing the border illegally. It only takes one or two to send a message that illegal activity will not be tolerated,” Noem added.
I hope Texas law allows law enforcement and public safety officials to use all legal methods up to and including necessary force to stop people from crossing the border illegally. It only takes one or two to send a message that illegal activity will not be tolerated.
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) January 24, 2024
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee
Lee said Tennesseeans have long supported the Lone Star State and would continue to do so given the public safety implications of the situation at the southern border.
“The federal government’s failure to secure our nation’s southern border is jeopardizing the safety of all Americans. Tennessee has always stood with Texas, and we always will,” Lee wrote on X Thursday morning.
The federal government’s failure to secure our nation’s southern border is jeopardizing the safety of all Americans. Tennessee has always stood with Texas, and we always will.
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) January 25, 2024
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox
Cox applauded Texas for taking its own actions over the past three years, spending billions of dollars to surge state police and military to the border.
“The border is a disaster that continues to spiral out of control, both in terms of people and deadly fentanyl traffic. This is not a partisan issue. This is a national security issue. This is a common sense issue. This is an American issue,” said Cox in a post to X Wednesday evening.
“Utah thanks Texas and Gov. Abbott for stepping up where the Biden Administration has failed over and over again,” said Cox.
The border is a disaster that continues to spiral out of control, both in terms of people and deadly fentanyl traffic. This is not a partisan issue. This is a national security issue. This is a common sense issue. This is an American issue.
Utah thanks Texas and Gov. Abbott for… https://t.co/sAuQL37qn5
— Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox (@GovCox) January 25, 2024
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin
Right outside the D.C. Beltway, Virginia’s leader took a stand for Texas.
“Virginia stands with Texas. @GregAbbott_TX is doing the job Joe Biden and his border czar refuse to do to secure our border,” Youngkin reacted on X Wednesday evening. “The Biden administration has turned every state into a border state. We must stop the flow of fentanyl, save lives, and secure our southern border.”
Virginia stands with Texas. @GregAbbott_TX is doing the job Joe Biden and his border czar refuse to do to secure our border.
The Biden administration has turned every state into a border state. We must stop the flow of fentanyl, save lives, and secure our southern border. https://t.co/XaPu2RqJBP
— Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) January 25, 2024
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice
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The Senate candidate backed Abbott in a post to X Thursday morning in which Justice blamed President Joe Biden for having turned all 50 states into border states.
“We have a terrible crisis at the Southern Border. The Biden Administration has turned every state into a border state,” said Justice. “We must stop the flow of fentanyl, human trafficking, and criminal activity and secure our border. We support @GregAbbott_TX and the State of Texas.”
We have a terrible crisis at the Southern Border.
The Biden Administration has turned every state into a border state. We must stop the flow of fentanyl, human trafficking, and criminal activity and secure our border.
We support @GregAbbott_TX and the State of Texas. https://t.co/rnFEu3rQQm
— Jim Justice (@JimJusticeWV) January 25, 2024