14 Republican governors unite with Texas to oppose Biden administration on border fencing

By Hakan Copur

WASHINGTON (AA) – Amid ongoing border security disagreements in the US, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, along with 14 other Republican governors, on Sunday issued a message of unity against the Biden administration.

After Governor Abbott returned to the US from his trip to India, he held a joint press conference with Republican governors at the Eagle Pass border crossing in Texas, where there have been disputes with the federal government and the Supreme Court over border issues.

Republican governors from Georgia, Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri, and Tennessee stood with Abbott during the press conference to show their support.

During his press conference, Abbott slammed US President Joe Biden, saying Washington's failure to ensure border security has left the responsibility to the states. He and other Republican governors will work together against the Biden administration on border security issues, he vowed.

He promised to install more barbed wire along the border to prevent illegal migrant crossings, reaffirming their commitment to taking all necessary measures to deter illegal immigration.

Other Republican governors harshly criticized the Biden administration for allegedly leaving the borders open to illegal immigration.

Republican governors pledged to send as many National Guard and other support elements as Abbott required, and they reaffirmed their support for the state of Texas in this matter.

- Abbott-Biden administration dispute

Abbott has accused the Biden administration of failing to take sufficient border security measures, ordering the installation of about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) of barbed wire in Eagle Pass, a border town frequented by irregular migrants seeking to enter the US.

The Biden administration argued that border security falls under federal jurisdiction and petitioned the Supreme Court to remove the barbed wire.

Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling to remove the barbed wire along the Rio Grande River, Abbott announced his refusal to comply with the verdict, escalating the dispute with the Biden administration.

Despite the court's decision, the Texas National Guard prevented the US Border Patrol from carrying out their job on Jan. 23 and continued to install barbed wire. Moreover, 25 Republican governors released a joint statement expressing their support for Texas.