While we are all for safe and secure borders, and are against irregular migration, South Texans are shocked and condemn the recent inhumane and abusive actions promoted by Governor Abbott.
Recent reports on the Governor’s Operation Lone Star have revealed that state troopers have been directed to push nursing babies and children back into the Rio Grande river. The Governor has recently directed the addition of floating barriers, netting, and sharp razor wire along the river, which increase the risk of injury and drowning for both migrants and law enforcement personnel.
In response, I, along with the full Texas Democratic Congressional Delegation, sent a letter to President Biden urging his administration to intervene in Governor Abbott’s Operation Lone Star. I was happy to learn that after the letter had been sent, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced their intention to sue the Governor’s administration and asked for the removal of the barriers and netting along the Rio Grande river.
The Governor’s actions come at a time when migrant crossings have plunged to their lowest levels since President Biden took office – which only shows that his directives are not based on data or facts.
Governor Abbott has willfully endangered lives, wasted billions of Texas taxpayers’ money on political grand standing that has had no real impact in curbing irregular migration, and undermined the integrity of our law enforcement officers who did not sign up to be a part of a political stunt.
Furthermore, the Governor’s disregard for federal policies and international treaties is not only an overstep of his authority but subverts the federal government’s jurisdiction and jeopardizes existing agreements with Mexico, one of our most important trade partners.
The communities I represent know firsthand the impacts of immigration, including the law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line every day to protect our community and our borders. We must take steps to ensure that our border is secure. However, nothing justifies the Governor’s theatrics and cruelty.
I will be monitoring the situation closely and will take further action to ensure that our nation’s borders are safe in a legal and humane manner.
Editor’s Note: The above guest column was penned by U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen. The column appears in The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service with the permission of the author. Gonzalez can be reached by email via: Mauricio.Armaza@mail.house.gov.
