Former President Donald Trump joined a growing number of Republican political leaders on Thursday in expressing support for the state of Texas in its escalating battle with the Biden administration to secure its southern border.
“Joe Biden has surrendered our Border, and is aiding and abetting a massive Invasion of millions of Illegal Migrants into the United States,” Trump said in a lengthy statement. “Instead of fighting to protect our Country from this onslaught, Biden is, unbelievably, fighting to tie the hands of Governor Abbott and the State of Texas, so that the Invasion continues unchecked. In the face of this National Security, Public Safety, and Public Health Catastrophe, Texas has rightly invoked the Invasion Clause of the Constitution, and must be given full support to repel the Invasion.”
“We encourage all willing States to deploy their guards to Texas to prevent the entry of Illegals, and to remove them back across the Border,” he continued. “All Americans should support the commonsense measures by Texas authorities to protect the Safety, Security, and Sovereignty of Texas, and of the American people. When I am President, on Day One, instead of fighting Texas, I will work hand in hand with Governor Abbott and other Border States to Stop the Invasion, Seal the Border, and Rapidly Begin the Largest Domestic Deportation Operation in History. Those Biden has let in should not get comfortable because they will be going home.”
The border was far more secure under Trump than it has been under President Joe Biden, with Border Patrol averaging around 500,000 illegal alien apprehensions most years under Trump’s watch, except for Fiscal Year 2019 when more than 850,000 illegal aliens were apprehended. So far the Biden Department of Homeland Security has made over 5 million apprehensions.
Abbott’s standoff with the Biden administration has gained the support of dozens of his fellow GOP governors. Earlier in the day, 25 Republican governors announced their solidarity with Abbott and the state of Texas.
Multiple Republican states have been sending national guard soldiers and law enforcement officers to Texas for years to assist the state in its efforts. Early examples of this include Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sending state law enforcement officers to Texas in 2021 and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson sending in national guard troops the same year. Florida has since sent significantly greater resources to Texas. Other governors, like North Dakota’s Doug Burgum and Virginia’s Glenn Youngkin, also pledged last year to send national guard soldiers to Texas. In total, more than a dozen Republican states have sent national guard troops to help with the crisis at the border under Biden.