Texas ranchers are praising Republican Gov. Greg Abbott for “holding the line” as the state continues to push back against the federal government over border security.
”“Every state has the right to defend itself in the event of invasion or imminent danger to its citizens,” rancher and Kinney County Attorney Brent Smith told “Fox & Friends” Friday.
“Texas is drawing the line. We have to. We have no choice at this point. This is much more than an immigration policy issue. This is about the safety of Texans and the United States. It’s a relevant issue.”
Border front: Republicans back Abbott, Democrats call on Biden to take control of Texas National Guard
Latest supreme court The decision in the battle between Texas and President Biden has set off a showdown over the Lone Star State's constitutional authority to protect it while the federal government appears to be standing in the way.
On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on an emergency appeal from a lower court that barred the federal government from cutting razor-edge fencing that Texas installed along the border near Eagle Pass while litigation continues. The court issued a judgment temporarily revoking the injunction.
Late Wednesday night, Mr. Abbott declared constitutional authority to reserve states' right of self-defense against invasion, adding that the executive branch had broken constitutional agreements with states by failing to enforce federal immigration law.
“Texas has the right as a state to stop criminals from entering our state. In fact, there is only one person in America who is not doing his job and that is the president of the United States,” he said Thursday in “America's Newsroom.''
U.S. Border Patrol agents watch over 2,000 migrants at a field processing center in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Dec. 18, 2023. In recent weeks, the number of migrants crossing the southern U.S. border has soared to 12,000 per day, overwhelming U.S. immigration authorities. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) (John Moore/Getty Images)
Smith insisted that Abbott was “not in rebellion” against the federal government and was upholding his oath as governor.
“I believe he has all the powers necessary to ensure the safety and security of the country and, more importantly, the people.”
“Each day, enough people die of fentanyl to crash a 747 in America. Can you imagine that?” [if] Do 747 planes crash every day? There's going to be public hearings, there's going to be Congressional oversight, all sorts of things. But today no one blinks an eye, or are we going to wait until 200,000 or 300,000 people die before we do something? ”
EAGLE PASS, Texas – JANUARY 26: Texas National Guard members stand by near the boat launch where law enforcement enters the Rio Grande River on January 26, 2024 at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered the Texas National Guard to defy a Supreme Court ruling that allows federal Border Patrol agents full access to areas with large numbers of illegal immigrants. (Photo by Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images)
A growing number of Republican governors are supporting Texas as the high court's Feb. 7 ruling sends the case back to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Legal experts told FOX News Digital that Texas is within its constitutional rights to cut razor wire, even if the federal government continues to reduce wire fencing before an appeals court takes up the issue. He said it was within the Supreme Court's order to continue building the fence.
“So what's this going to be like?” Smith asked. “Are we in a death pact where we have no choice but to be invaded and lose our nation? Absolutely not. That's not what our Founders wanted or agreed to. There is no, and neither is the state.”
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Fox News' Brianna Herlihy contributed to this report.
