Full disclosure, I have zero use for Texas governor Greg Abbott. I’ve voted against him and donated to his Democratic opponent each time he has run for office. His allegiance to big corporate donors and the very forces that seek to rip our state and our country apart is absolutely despicable. His draconian stance against women’s rights, in particular, makes him one of the more hated politicians in the country.
When it comes to the Southern border of the United States, a border that is largely comprised of Mexico’s border with Texas, I have to admit he kind of has a point.
If you’re not following this story, which is the one Republicans would really like to make central to the 2024 Presidential election, here it is in a nutshell. Record numbers of immigrants are coming to the US border from South America seeking asylum, and Texas bears the brunt of this influx. Governor Abbott has been ramping up his efforts to stem the tide of this flow of immigrants, from transporting them to other states to now installing razor wire along the border and deploying the Texas National Guard to aid in the effort.
The Supreme Court recently ruled that the federal government could remove the razor wire, which was put in place direct violation of the US Constitution, which clearly makes national borders the purview of the feds. Governor Abbott is continuing to install razor wire in defiance of both the federal government and the Supreme Court. What’s the solution? I posted my own thoughts on solving the border “crisis” last year, and here’s a link to my Open Letter to Ted Cruz.
To be clear, any action the federal government would take on the Southern border short of an executive order from President Biden requires Congressional action. Congress, however, is so concerned about party politics that they are essentially immobilized, even on issues that have 70% or more public approval. Even now there are reports that a bill has been authored to address the border, bill that has bi-partisan support, but Republicans are on the verge of backing out because the former President is telling them to stop. He wants to use it against President Biden, who again has few options without Congress acting.
With Congress playing games, shouldn’t the governor of Texas feel the need to take matters into his own hands even with the Constitution and the Supreme Court insisting he has no jurisdiction?
Government has failed us repeatedly and on nearly every major issue. There are billion-dollar corporations which are highly invested in the status quo, and anything that might disrupt the status quo will be lobbied out of existence. You can watch old movies like “The American President” (1995) and the ensuing “The West Wing” (on NBC 1999-2006) feature many situations in which serious issues are debated and every single big issue is still waiting to be solved some 20 years later.
It’s frustrating!
Greg Abbott is absolutely wrong for what he’s doing, and he almost certainly is doing it solely for political reasons. He has never once demonstrated that he would actually put the needs of Texans above some other agenda centered on his personal gain. That being said, whatever his motivation, his actions reflect a level of frustration we all share regarding the inaction of Congress. Perhaps he could take it one step further and actually pressure Texas Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn to set politics aside and join Senate Democrats’ push for a solution.
-B
Ishmael's Legacy 