Texas has seized over 422 million lethal doses of fentanyl on the border since 2021 — or “greater than sufficient to kill all Americans,’’ Lone Star Gov. Greg Abbott fumed in a brand new salvo in opposition to President Biden.
“Every particular person who’s apprehended or arrested and each ounce of medicine seized would have in any other case made their manner into communities throughout Texas and the nation as a result of President Joe Biden’s open border insurance policies,” the Republican governor added in his weekly progress report Friday on Operation Lone Star, his border safety plan.
That similar day, the Biden administration threatened to sue Texas if Abbott didn’t take away a controversial floating border barrier made of huge orange buoys within the Rio Grande, the river that separates Texas from Mexico and doubles because the worldwide boundary.
The DOJ made good on its risk Monday, submitting go well with in opposition to the state, saying the barrier required federal approve to erect.
“We allege that Texas has flouted federal legislation by putting in a barrier within the Rio Grande with out acquiring the required federal authorization,” Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta mentioned a press launch. “This floating barrier poses threats to navigation and public security and presents humanitarian issues. Additionally, the presence of the floating barrier has prompted diplomatic protests by Mexico and dangers damaging U.S. international coverage.”
Hours earlier, Abbott launched a letter he despatched to President Joe Biden defending what he referred to as his “sovereign curiosity” in defending his state’s border.
“Texas will see you in court docket, Mr. President,” the three-term governor declared.
Biden’s incapability to safe the southern border has turned the Texas-Mexico boundary into the deadliest land crossing on the planet, Abbott alleged.
“Neither of us desires to see one other demise within the Rio Grande River,” his letter to Biden reads. “Yet your open-border insurance policies encourage migrants to danger their lives by crossing illegally by way of water, as a substitute of safely and legally at a port of entry. Nobody drowns on a bridge.”
A current video exhibiting migrants getting into the US illegally close to Eagle Pass, Texas — a border sizzling spot — appeared to again up Abbott’s declare.
“I spent months ready for an [immigration] appointment,” an unidentified migrant says within the clip, referring to the Biden’s administration CBP One App.
The app, rolled out below President Trump and prolonged below Biden, was meant to supply a authorized and secure pathway for asylum seekers on the border so they’d not must danger their lives crossing the river or by the hands of smugglers.
“Their frustration is that the CBP One App is just not working,” Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Chris Olivarez mentioned in a tweet. “The frustration builds up and that’s why they proceed to cross and danger their lives.”
Meanwhile, Abbott is keeping off bombshell accusations that he directed Texas Department of Public Safety troopers to push migrant kids and infants making an attempt to cross into the US again into the river, in accordance with Hearst Newspapers.
Troopers have been reportedly additionally ordered to disclaim water to unlawful immigrants, even when they have been coping with warmth exhaustion.
“No orders or instructions have been given below Operation Lone Star that will compromise the lives of these making an attempt to cross the border illegally,” Abbott mentioned in an announcement.
