It has begun. Red State Governors are starting to mobilize support behind the State of Texas for standing up to the Biden administration over the border crisis.
On Wednesday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statement declaring that the state was invoking its constitutional authority to self-defense against the border invasion.
My statement on Texas’ constitutional right to self-defense. pic.twitter.com/seNFZdmujP
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 24, 2024
“President Biden has instructed his agencies to ignore federal statutes that mandate the detention of illegal immigrants. The failure of the Biden Administration to fulfill the duties imposed by Article IV, § 4 has triggered Article I, § 10, Clause 3, which reserves to this State the right of self-defense,” the statement continues.
“For these reasons, I have already declared an invasion under Article I, § 10, Clause 3 to invoke Texas’s constitutional authority to defend and protect itself,” the statement adds.
“That authority is the supreme law of the land and supersedes any federal statutes to the contrary.”
The showdown began when the State of Texas defied a temporary injunction from the Supreme Court directing it to allow federal border patrol agents to cut down razor wire to allow more illegal migrants to come into the United States.
BREAKING REPORT: ⚠️ Texas National Guard DEFIES SUPREME COURT RULING, installs more razor wire and barriers at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass Texas..
DEVELOPING..pic.twitter.com/DT5AexvHcI
— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) January 23, 2024
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt had a simple message on Wednesday afternoon in reaction to a post showing Texas mobilizing its National Guard troops in the standoff.
Oklahoma stands with Texas. https://t.co/67VzVEfEv1
— Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) January 24, 2024
“Oklahoma stands with Texas,” Stitt said.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who recently dropped out of the 2024 presidential race to endorse former President Donald Trump, also expressed his support for Texas in the showdown.
On Wednesday evening, DeSantis issued the following post on 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.
TX is upholding the law while Biden is flouting it.
FL will keep assisting… https://t.co/qOJY2zT1hG
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 24, 2024
“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,” Gov. DeSantis said.
“TX is upholding the law while Biden is flouting it,” he added. “FL will keep assisting Texas with personnel and assets.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has a history of helping Texas Gov. Greg Abbott help manage the border crisis. In May 2023, DeSantis “pledged to send five aircraft, 17 drones and 10 boats from Florida” for the collective effort to control the southern border.
In a letter to governors in 2023, Gov. Abbott wrote: “In the federal government’s absence, we, as Governors, must band together to combat President Biden’s ongoing border crisis and ensure the safety and security that all Americans deserve.”
Abbott then urged his fellow state executives to “send all available law enforcement personnel and resources” to the Rio Grande, as reported by the Texas Tribune.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin spoke up about Texas’ border stance.
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
“Virginia stands with Texas,” Gov. Youngkin said. “Gov. Greg Abbott 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,” he continued. “We must stop the flow of fentanyl, save lives, and secure our southern border.”
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem also stated that she had Texas’ back.
.@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
“Gov. Greg Abbott is exactly right to invoke Texas’ constitutional authority to defend itself,’ Gov. Noem wrote. “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,” she added.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp also expressed his support for Texas’ border stand.
Enough is enough. Our southern border is in crisis thanks to the Biden administration’s refusal to do their job.@GregAbbott_TX and the state of Texas have our full support. https://t.co/dmJKMsviTV
— Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) January 25, 2024
“Enough is enough. Our southern border is in crisis thanks to the Biden administration’s refusal to do their job,” Kemp wrote. “Gov. Greg Abbott and the state of Texas have our full support.”
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte also expressed his support for Governor Abbott’s move.
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.
We must secure the southern border. https://t.co/K1tAy6pE4e
— Governor Greg Gianforte (@GovGianforte) January 24, 2024
Utah Governor Spencer Cox also weighed in on the border showdown.
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
As did West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice.
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
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders expressed support for Texas as well.
If President Biden won’t defend us, states will have to defend themselves. Arkansas stands with Texas. https://t.co/E1PPGex0Xf
— Sarah Huckabee Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) January 25, 2024
Bill Melugin of Fox News provided a list of states that announced support.
Updated list of states announcing they stand w/ Texas in border dispute w/ federal government.
Florida
Virginia
Georgia
South Dakota
Tennessee
Alabama
Montana
Idaho
Utah
West Virginia
Oklahoma
Nebraska
LouisianaSeveral of these states have also previously sent…
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) January 25, 2024
Many observers online urged other state governors to flock to Abbott’s aid in the effort to secure the border against the wishes of the Biden administration.
Red State Governors have a chance to show the world who the Democrats are now. They must take action. Deploy EVERY National Guard to Texas. Biden and the Democrats will try to seize control of them.
This will prove once & for all that they want open borders and a dictatorship. pic.twitter.com/ovBM4nCanF
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) January 24, 2024
“Red State Governors have a chance to show the world who the Democrats are now,” said Robby Starbuck. “They must take action. Deploy EVERY National Guard to Texas. Biden and the Democrats will try to seize control of them. This will prove once & for all that they want open borders and a dictatorship.”
Biden & every democrat supports the invasion of our nation.
10 mil illegals have entered for every 1 threat we identify, like the man below, there are many more like him.
Red state Governors should send their nat guard to assist Texas, these threats affect the entire nation. https://t.co/C5M45lGoOh
— Joe Kent for WA-3 (@joekent16jan19) January 24, 2024
“Biden & every democrat supports the invasion of our nation,” remarked Joe Kent. “10 mil illegals have entered for every 1 threat we identify, like the man below, there are many more like him. Red state Governors should send their nat guard to assist Texas, these threats affect the entire nation.”
The Texas fight is our fight. There should be more Republican governors sending down their National Guard to help Texas. https://t.co/2GSbKxxilr
— Joel Fischer ?? (@realJoelFischer) January 23, 2024
“The Texas fight is our fight,” said Joel Fischer. “There should be more Republican governors sending down their National Guard to help Texas.”