Gov. Greg Abbott’s political maneuvers at the Texas-Mexico border have resulted in the tragic deaths of migrants. Operation Lone Star, his unauthorized and ineffective border mission, needs to be halted. President Biden must step up and take action.
The Supreme Court has consistently ruled that immigration enforcement is solely under the jurisdiction of the federal government, not the states. Mr. Abbott’s border operations have been deemed unconstitutional, in violation of federal law, and conflicting with the U.S.’s obligations to Mexico under international treaties. President Biden has the right and responsibility to intervene and assert the federal government’s authority to regulate the border without interference from the states.
The lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice seeks to compel Mr. Abbott to remove the dangerous floating barrier of buoys he installed in the Rio Grande. While this is a positive step, it falls short of what is needed. Mr. Abbott has made it clear that he has no intention of complying and is unwilling to wait for the litigation process to play out, adding to the suffering already present at the border.
Every day that President Biden fails to stop Mr. Abbott, more unnecessary and preventable suffering occurs, often resulting in death. A medic with the Texas Department of Public Safety recently exposed the governor’s deadly operation, revealing that troopers have been instructed to push back small children and nursing babies into the Rio Grande. Texas troopers have also implemented razor “traps” and buoys that funnel asylum seekers into more perilous areas of the river. These obstructions have led to drownings, injuries to young children, and even the tragic death of a pregnant woman’s unborn child.
The Houston Chronicle published an internal memo from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, stating that Operation Lone Star is preventing Border Patrol agents from fulfilling their legal duties to process migrants and provide humanitarian aid. Just days after the memo’s release, four migrants, including an infant, drowned near Eagle Pass, Texas. This is not an isolated incident. Last year, authorities discovered the remains of 890 deceased migrants along the border, primarily due to drownings.
It is evident that Mr. Abbott’s border mission aims to inflict suffering. While he claims it’s about securing the border, all evidence shows that it is exacerbating the situation. The Wall Street Journal analysis reveals that the area of the border targeted by Operation Lone Star has experienced a significant increase in illegal crossings since the operation began.
If left unchallenged, Mr. Abbott will continue to escalate his campaign of cruelty. He has employed various tactics, from loading buses with migrants to drop them in Washington, D.C., to imprisoning asylum seekers on false charges. The Republican-majority Texas Legislature has only enabled and funded these operations, allocating at least $10 billion for their continuation.
President Biden must act to stop this madness. He campaigned on the promise of ending the cruel immigration policies of his predecessor and implementing a fair and humane system. He has already taken steps to undo harmful policies, but he has also imposed new restrictions that hinder access to protection for many asylum seekers. This framework risks worsening the humanitarian crisis at the border.
President Biden must change course starting with halting Mr. Abbott’s actions. He should order the immediate removal of the lethal razor wire and obstructions in the Rio Grande and ensure that Border Patrol faces no interference from Texas Department of Public Safety officers. Additionally, he must create safer pathways for those with valid asylum claims to apply for refuge in an orderly fashion at legal ports of entry. This approach aligns with American values and will establish order and safety at the southern border.
Despite the political challenges, President Biden must take a stance on immigration that aligns with our values and demonstrates decisive leadership. By doing so, he will gain support and prevent this issue from becoming a humanitarian crisis and political liability in the future.
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