Texas is facing challenges in light of new border security measures. According to Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens, in just the first 16 days of the new fiscal year, the migrant situation continues to present challenges. Owens reported that more than 18,000 “known gotaways” have made their way into the states.
Texas is exploring various ways to address this issue, from Operation Lone Star to deploying floating border buoys, and even considering busing migrants across the U.S.
Gov. Greg Abbott is now installing more barriers, but not along the southern border. Instead, he’s focusing on the Texas border with another state.
In an effort to combat illegal immigration, Abbott has ordered the Texas National Guard to deploy 18 miles of razor wire along the New Mexico-Texas border, which he believes contributes the most to illegal immigration in El Paso.
“New Mexico is in what’s called the El Paso sector, El Paso is in Texas,” Abbott, R-Texas, said. “Most of the people coming into the El Paso sector they don’t come to the United States through Texas, they come through New Mexico and then go over to El Paso. So not only are we building border barriers between the border of Texas and Mexico we’re also having now to build border barriers between Texas and New Mexico.”
Legal concerns
Some are questioning if this move is even legal. Texas Democratic Chair Gilberto Hinojosa and New Mexico Democratic Chair Jessica Velasquez are condemning Abbott’s decision.
“This is the latest Operation Lone Star initiative funded by the working Texas families’ tax dollars.” Hinojosa and Velasquez said in a joint statement. “They argue it will result in environmental damage, community division, and harm to vulnerable migrants.”
Legal experts say that Abbott is well within his power to enforce laws that protect the health and security of the state’s citizens. However, that authority ends when it starts to impact another state.
To halt the border fence construction in New Mexico, either the attorney general or the governor’s office must initiate a lawsuit.
Additional security measures
In addition to the interstate barrier, the Texas Senate has also introduced a divisive bill to the floor six times. Senate Bill 11 would make unlawful entry a state offense, allowing local and state police to arrest undocumented immigrants.
These bills are in a House committee and not yet law, but concerns over their constitutionality and the potential burden on the state remain.
“We’ll have to build multiple, multiple, multiple state jails to hold these prisoners.” Chris Tritico, a Texas criminal justice attorney, said. “Coupled with the extra law enforcement officers, the extra judges, the extra bailiffs, the extra jailors. I don’t think the cost of enforcing this law has been adequately thought about.”
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick released a statement, saying, “This is the third time the Texas Senate has passed this critical legislation. The Senate is committed to securing the southern border and will pass this bill over and over again until it is approved by the Texas House.”
Civil rights activists argue that this legislation could severely hinder migrants seeking asylum, a legal right protected by federal and international laws.