Texas and California are both grappling with significant challenges related to unauthorized immigration, a situation that concerns millions of Americans nationwide, even if they are not directly affected. Since President Biden’s inauguration, Texas, with its extensive border with Mexico, has found it particularly difficult to ensure border security, prompting state authorities to take independent action.
Record high immigration
December saw an unprecedented surge in unauthorized border crossings, setting a new record. Border Patrol statistics reveal that there were 249,785 arrests along the Mexico-U.S. border in December, marking a 31% increase from November’s figures of 191,112, and a 13% increase from the previous December’s total of 222,018. Republicans attribute these figures to the Biden administration’s failure to secure the border, sparking considerable debate.
Illegal immigration in the focus
The topic of unauthorized immigration has surged to the forefront of the presidential campaign, driven by survey results indicating a historic high in American concern over the issue and its long-term implications. The controversy intensified in February when House Republicans rejected a bill that sought, among other things, to bolster border forces and support border states. This decision was the opposite of what they have been calling in recent years.
Controversial measures
Texas has struggled to secure its border in the absence of adequate federal support, leading the state to adopt controversial measures. These efforts, aimed at mitigating the impact of unauthorized immigration, have ranged from installing floating barriers and razor wire to transporting thousands of migrants to sanctuary cities across the country, occasionally triggering legal disputes with the Biden administration.
Operation Lone Star
Earlier this month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbot celebrated three years since the start of the Operation Lone Star. In a post to X, formerly known as Twitter, Abbot said that Texas authorities have since made over 503,000 apprehensions, over 40,000 criminal arrests and 469 million lethal fentanyl doses were seized. Abbott than promised that the state of Texas will continue to hold the line and keep the border the secure.
Bussing migrants to sanctuary cities
One of the most controversial measures under Gov. Abbott is the extremely expensive process of bussing migrants to sanctuary cities across the nation. In another post on X, Abbott informed his followers that Texas so far has transported more than 105,000 migrants to other cities. He then shared the list with most transfers:
- over migrants to 12,500 to DC
- over migrants to 39,300 to NYC
- over migrants to 32,300 to Chicago
- over migrants to 3,400 to Philadelphia
- over migrants to 16,700 to Denver
- over migrants to 1,500 to LA
The border wall
Texas Governor Greg Abbott is persistently enhancing the state’s border security measures by adding razor wire and continuing the construction of a border wall, amidst an ongoing dispute with President Joe Biden’s administration over the matter. Construction efforts are actively progressing along the border between Texas and Mexico, with Governor Abbott steadfastly maintaining that Texas is entitled to defend itself against what he terms as an “invasion” at its border. Regular updates on the progress of the border wall are frequently posted by Abbott on social media platforms.
Controversial law temporarily blocked by the Supreme Court
Last year, Abbott signed Senate Bill 4 into law. This controversial measure was challenged by the Biden administration and the Supreme Court has temporarily suspended the enforcing of the law. The law being would let Texas authorities arrest people who cross into the U.S. from Mexico without permission and would apply criminal charges.
SB 4 aims to classify illegal border crossing as a Class B misdemeanor, which could result in up to six months in jail. According to the law, individuals who are caught crossing illegally again could be charged with a second-degree felony, facing anywhere from two to twenty years in prison.
However, Abbott in another post on X informed his followers that the state continues “to arrest illegal immigrants for criminal trespass and other violations of law.”
SCOTUS temporarily halted enforcement of SB 4 but Texas is still using its authority to arrest illegal immigrants for criminal trespass and other violations of law.
We continue building the wall, use NG to erect razor wire barriers to repel migrants & buoys remain in river.— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) March 18, 2024
