White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has addressed the growing demands for President Joe Biden to intervene in the Texas border dispute with Governor Greg Abbott by taking control of the Texas National Guard. The call for federalizing the National Guard comes in the wake of Abbott’s defiance of a Supreme Court order permitting the removal of razor wire from a section of the U.S.-Mexico border.
During a CNN interview on Thursday morning, Jean-Pierre responded to the appeals, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to finding a bipartisan solution for border challenges through ongoing discussions with Senate Republicans and Democrats. She expressed concerns about Governor Abbott’s politicization of the issue, asserting that his actions are not beneficial to communities and place border patrol agents at risk.
While refraining from specifying potential presidential actions, Jean-Pierre highlighted the administration’s clear stance on the matter. The push for federalizing the Texas National Guard reflects the escalating tensions between President Biden and Governor Abbott over immigration policies. Republicans, including Abbott, attribute the surge in migrants seeking asylum at the border to Biden’s approach.
The legal clash intensified when Texas erected razor wire along the border, leading to legal disputes with the Biden administration questioning the state’s legal authority. The Supreme Court’s recent ruling allowing the removal of parts of the barrier further fueled the conflict, drawing criticism from Republicans.
Governor Abbott, in response to the perceived “invasion” of migrants, invoked Texas’s constitutional authority to defend itself, arguing that it supersedes federal statutes. This move prompted calls from Democrats, including Representative Joaquin Castro, for President Biden to assert federal control over the Texas National Guard.
Representative Greg Casar, echoing Castro’s sentiment, emphasized the need for federal intervention if Governor Abbott continues to defy Supreme Court rulings. The situation underscores the broader political and legal clash over immigration policies at the U.S.-Mexico border.
In progress…
