Abbott: Biden is ‘using illegal immigrants as political pawns’

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) pushed back on President Biden’s claims that governors are using asylum seekers as “political pawns,” saying instead that it is Biden himself who is doing this. insisted.

“So it’s actually Joe Biden who is using illegal immigration as a political pawn,” Abbott said in an interview on “Fox News Sunday.” “Joe Biden has instituted this open borders policy that allows illegal immigration into our country to appeal to and appease the far left wing of the Democratic Party. [Rep. Alexandra] ocasio-cortez [D-N.Y.], trying to gain their support while at the same time hoping to destroy the country he is in charge of. ”

Mr. Biden has repeatedly criticized Mr. Abbott and other Republican governors for seeking independent action at the border, arguing that they are exploiting immigration for their own political gain.

“Instead of working with us to create solutions, Republicans are using people as props and playing politics with people,” Biden said in 2022.

Mr. Abbott reiterated his claim that Mr. Biden is pursuing “political games” and is “putting the country at risk” because of his border policies. He likened the president to New York City Mayor Eric Adams (Democratic), who has also been harshly critical of the governor’s policies.

Mr. Abbott began sending busloads of migrants to New York City and other so-called sanctuary cities about two years ago, and Mr. Adams has repeatedly called for additional federal resources to help deal with the influx.

“And Mayor Adams has aided and abetted New York City by obtaining sanctuary city status under the city’s legislation and welcoming people from all over the world to live or stay in New York City. It’s just that,” Abbott said. “And what Mayor Adams needs to do is stop talking boldly about illegal immigrants and the immigrants that the state of Texas is bringing in and do his job, because the dangers in New York City are on his watch. Because we should pay attention to

The Hill has reached out to Abbott and Biden’s offices for comment.

Tensions between Mr. Abbott and the Biden administration began earlier this year when the Texas National Guard and Texas Department of Public Safety installed fencing and razor wire at a riverside park in Eagle Pass, Texas, blocking Border Patrol agents from entering the park. What I did made it worse. The Biden administration challenged this, leading to a showdown at the Supreme Court.

Mr. Abbott and the Biden administration are also engaged in a months-long legal battle over a bill that would give local Texas police the power to arrest people suspected of entering the country illegally. Late last month, a federal appeals court extended a stay on the law, which briefly went into effect last month following a Supreme Court ruling.