SAN JUAN, Texas - Faith-based groups are concerned that Gov. Greg Abbott’s latest border security initiative will enhance a xenophobic narrative towards undocumented immigrants.
On July 7, Abbott today issued an executive order authorizing and empowering the Texas National Guard and the Texas Department of Public Safety to apprehend undocumented immigrants who have crossed the border between ports of entry. The two agencies must then return them to the border, Abbott ordered.
The executive order does not address what Texas law enforcement officials should do once a migrant has been transported to a port of entry.
The announcement comes less than two weeks after 53 immigrant lives were lost in San Antonio in one of the deadliest tragedies involving migrants in the United States.
The Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC), which represents multiple religious groups, warns against vilifying others, and instead calls on people to practice welcome and hospitality with a non-judgmental spirit. The IIC is urging the Biden administration, Congress, and the state of Texas to restore, welcome and support the fundamental human right to seek asylum.
“Governor Abbott’s latest attempt to take immigration enforcement into his own hands will not stop people from endangering themselves as they seek protection,” said Marisa Limón Garza, senior director for advocacy and programming, Hope Border Institute.
“Instead, it will force them into the hands of smugglers. It will not increase safety at the southern border, it will create dangerous conditions for the most vulnerable among us seeking protection. Borderland communities have been welcoming migrants seeking refuge for generations and to treat those seeking aid as an invading force ignores the reality we witness daily.”
The Hope Border Institute is part of IIC. So is the Missionary Society of St. Columban. Its advocacy coordinator, Cynthia Gonzalez, said:
“Border communities are models of hospitality and creative cross-cultural encounters. Border communities witness firsthand the cry of our sisters and brothers desperately asking for protection and the opportunity to build a better life for their families. We consider it a blessing to welcome them.”
Gonzalez added: “Governor Abbott's plan to further militarize the border does not solve the root causes that force asylum seekers to reach our border in the first place. His plan only adds to the cruelty of our inhumane and militarized immigration system, which sows fear and distrust in our communities. Instead, we invite lawmakers and all people to come and see the reality beyond the rhetoric.”
Katie Adams is IIC’s interim chair. She is also domestic policy advocate for the United Church of Christ. Adams said:
“Migrants seeking shelter and safety at the border are not props for political stunts, and this escalation by the governor of Texas has the potential to be dangerous and deadly. It’s troubling and telling that instead of devoting time, creative resources and thinking, the governor of Texas continues to double down on reckless and cruel handling of migrants and asylum seekers. Imagine instead a devotion of those same resources to a thoughtful welcome? Clearly it’s not an issue of time, funding, or resources; rather it’s a single minded pursuit of xenophobic white supremacist ideology.”
Adams asked, how do we break free of this? Her own answer is: “We pray that the governor of Texas has the scales ripped from his eyes—that like Saul on the road to Damascus, he sees what his veneration of white supremacy has wrought—and the many lives placed in peril because of it.”
The Franciscan Action Network, whose logo is posted above, is also part of IIC. Its associate director, Sister Marie Lucey, said:
“Governor Greg Abbott and I have one thing in common. We are both Roman Catholics. I, and our Franciscan family, are appalled that a fellow Catholic speaks falsely and cruelly about ‘an invasion’ of migrants at the Texas border. His inhumane executive order, built on a falsehood, runs contrary to the position toward migrants of Pope Francis, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Franciscan Action Network, and the majority of people of faith, including Catholics. We pray not only for migrants seeking protection and safety in the United States, but also for a change of mind and heart for Governor Abbott of Texas.”
The Rev. Noel Andersen is director of organizing for Church World Service, said: “In the wake of recent shootings inspired by White Supremacist ideologies, several Texas counties are acting in dangerous ways that encourage extremists to view people seeking asylum as an ‘invasion,’ which will only stoke fear and racism against immigrants.”
Church World Service is part of IIC.
Andersen added: “Governor Abbott’s unlawful attempt to skirt the constitution by having state troopers return migrants is another morally reprehensible example of how politicians are trying to gin up their base through vilifying vulnerable populations fleeing life threatening circumstances. There is concern that these new atrocious policies are designed to make it to the Supreme Court to take advantage of the conservative court make up. We pray that Governor Abbott and Texas county elected officials might find a seed of compassion before they take such drastic actions that will create division and increased harm to already traumatized populations.”
The Interfaith Immigration Coalition is made up of over 55 national, faith-based organizations that are “brought together across many theological traditions with a common call to seek just policies that lift up the God-given dignity of every individual.”
In a statement, Abbott said he was issuing his new executive order in response to the Biden Administration's decision to end Title 42 expulsions. He pointed out that 5,000 migrants were apprehended crossing the Rio Grande over the July 4th weekend. A news release issued by his office said this has caused a “border crisis that has overrun communities along the border and across Texas.”
Abbott said: "While President Biden refuses to do his job and enforce the immigration laws enacted by Congress, the State of Texas is once again stepping up and taking unprecedented action to protect Americans and secure our southern border. The cartels have become emboldened and enriched by President Biden's open border policies, smuggling in record numbers of people, weapons, and deadly drugs like fentanyl."
Abbott’s executive order states that the Biden Administration "has abandoned the covenant, in Article IV, § 4 of the U.S. Constitution, that '[t]he United States . . . shall protect each against Invasion,' and thus has forced the State of Texas to build a border wall, deploy state military forces, and enter into agreements as described in Article I, § 10 of the U.S. Constitution to secure the State of Texas and repel the illegal immigration that funds the cartels."
Abbott added: ”I have authorized the Texas National Guard and Texas Department of Public Safety to begin returning illegal immigrants to the border to stop this criminal enterprise endangering our communities. As the challenges on the border continue to increase, Texas will continue to take action to address those challenges caused by the Biden Administration.”
The American Immigration Council believes Abbott’s executive order is in “dangerous defiance” of federal authority. AIC points out that the Supreme Court has previously said that states cannot carry out immigration enforcement. Authorizing state law enforcement to deport migrants could expose law enforcement agents to significant legal risk, the group argues.
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick is policy director at the American Immigration Council. He said:
“Governor Abbott’s latest election-year stunt is in defiance of the U.S. Constitution and the Supreme Court and puts law enforcement officials in danger of violating the law. Federal law is clear: states may not carry out immigration enforcement on their own and migrants have a right to request asylum and to be processed under our immigration laws. Given the lack of legal authority, Abbott’s efforts are a transparent attempt to whip up anti-immigrant sentiment.
“The executive order is a threat to Latinos and immigrants across the country. It sows distrust and destabilizes the very communities Abbott purports to represent. Migrants seeking safety, protection, and a better life in the United States are not an invading army. Instead, this misleading rhetoric presents the real danger. From Buffalo to Pittsburgh to El Paso, mass shooters have increasingly cited false claims of a border invasion to justify their heinous crimes. Governor Abbott’s political stunt puts us at all at risk by validating the beliefs of extremists and promoting fear and hatred.
“Rather than grandstanding for political attention, Governor Abbott should stop actively resisting federal efforts to develop a safer, more orderly humanitarian protection system at the border. The death of 53 migrants in San Antonio last week makes it clear that doubling down on deterrence will only make the situation worse. We also call on the Department of Justice to immediately take action to halt Governor Abbott’s unlawful order.”
Community groups along the U.S.-Texas border are also upset with Abbott.
The Border Network for Human Rights, which is based in El Paso, said it “condemns the use of resources and taxpayers’ money to further advance the governor’s racist, xenophobic, and white-supremacist aggressions inflicted on the humanitarian crisis at the southern border.”
Fernando Garcia is executive director of the BNHR. He said:
“We demand that Gov. Abbott immediately ceases such orders, as the state of Texas does not have the legal and moral jurisdiction to enforce immigration or border laws. That’s the sole responsibility of the federal government, and in doing so, the governor is exceeding his authority. By invoking the ‘invasion’ narrative and trying to impose it on the humanitarian crisis at the border, the governor is manipulating federal legal provisions meant to address irregular entry from other nations into our country.”
Garcia said that with his Operation Lone Star border security initiative, Abbott is demonizing and criminalizing people and families who are fleeing violent situations, pleading for protection, and seeking a chance at a life of dignity.
“Evidently, this political show of Gov. Abbott capitalizes on fear as a political tactic in a time of heightened turmoil at the southern border and clearly prioritizes power and political games over human lives and civil and human rights at the expense of refugee and migrant families,” Garcia said.
“There is a difference between true leadership and anti-refugee bravado. Gov. Abbott should know better when it comes to putting people, regardless of their origin or circumstances, in a dangerous situation.”
Garcia said the Border Network for Human Rights is calling on the Department of Justice to expand its investigation on the reach and legality of Operation Lone Star and to make Gov. Abbott accountable for the violation of human and civil rights of refugee families, asylum seekers, migrants, and border residents.
“This country has already had its share of tragedies, and it is past time to avoid more blood-shedding. The responsibility extends to Congress as well: the longer they take to eliminate Title 42 and provide a humane and comprehensive immigration reform, many more lives will continue to be at stake, and unscrupulous politicians will continue to promote vitriol and hate towards immigrants,” Garcia said.
La Unión del Pueblo Entero is a community group based in the Rio Grande Valley. It, too, condemns Gov. Abbott’s new executive order.
“While Texans are still reeling from the tragic death of migrants found last week in an abandoned trailer in San Antonio, Governor Abbott has escalated his anti-immigrant stunts,” said Dani Marrero Hi, director of communications at LUPE. “This type of strategically misleading responses will only force people to migrate through more drastic and dangerous ways, and it will cause harm to human life.”
Marrero Hi said Abbott’s views do not represent the majority of Texans.
“Our tradition is to look out for each other and extend a helping hand when we can. We believe in respecting and welcoming people with the courage to move here for a better life— no matter our color or accent. These are the values a majority of Texans have upheld for generations. We won’t betray our values to help the governor score cheap political points,” Marrero Hi said.
She said Abbott’s leadership creates an “unbearable tense environment" in the communities LUPE represents.
“Border residents will also feel this unnecessary increased policing in their daily lives by being constantly pulled over on their way to work or dropping off their children in school. By choosing to spend $25 million dollars a week on his publicity stunts, the governor sends a clear message that he does not care about the real and urgent needs of South Texans. He only cares about his political career.”
Marrero Hi added: “It is long overdue for President Biden to intervene and put an end to Governor Abbott’s Operational Lone Star and provide border communities the resources we need to safely welcome people arriving at our nation’s doorstep.”
The League of United Latin American Citizens is the oldest Latino civil rights group in the nation. It, too, takes issue with Abbott’s latest executive order.
“LULAC asserts it is illegal for Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers and Texas National Guard troops to detain or arrest immigrant men, women, and children and deport them without due process. This is Wild West xenophobia at its worst,” said Domingo Garcia, LULAC national president.
"Also, LULAC asks all loyal Americans and Texans to record and send to federal law enforcement any illegal actions they witness by DPS and state guardsmen as evidence for possible criminal prosecution and civil rights lawsuits. Fear mongering and scapegoating the 'other' are not the acts of Christians, Texans, or Americans. Eagle Pass, Del Rio, and other border communities do not have the humanitarian resources to deal with families being used as political piñatas by self-proclaimed righteous politicians. This is an abuse of authority and a waste of Texas taxpayer money.”
Lydia Guzman is LULAC’s national immigration chairwoman. She said:
"This type of political rhetoric is like throwing gasoline on the flames of hate and hate groups. We should all be outraged at this gas lighting. It squarely puts a target on our backs by inciting violence against us. Just look at the shooting in El Paso where someone acted on gas lighting statements and drove to El Paso to shoot Mexicans in the Walmart.”
On hearing of Gov. Abbott’s executive order, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador urged voters of Mexican origin in the United States not to vote for "anti-immigrant" candidates.
Reuters reported AMLO as saying Abbott’s order was immoral.
"If there's a candidate from a party that mistreats immigrants and Mexicans, we're going to ask our countrymen there that they don't vote for that candidate or party," López Obrador told reporters at a regular morning news conference.
AMLO will travel to the United States to meet with President Biden on Tuesday. According to Reuters, AMLO said he was "absolutely sure" the U.S. president would not approve of Abbott’s policy.
“Undocumented immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border has been an increasingly politicized issue in bilateral relations, particularly among Republicans since former President Donald Trump's 2015-2016 successful election campaign,” Reuters reported.
“Trump caused widespread outrage in Mexico by describing migrants crossing the border as rapists and drug dealers, and Mexican officials are wary about the prospect of advances made by the Republicans in November's midterm elections.”
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