(The Center Square) – Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs said that Texas’ current opposition to the federal government at the United States-Mexico border varies from her plan for the state.
The U.S. Supreme Court has given federal authorities permission to cut through razor wire placed by the state of Texas in the Eagle Pass area, The Center Square reported. Texas continues to take other measures in an attempt to secure the border which has led to legal action from the Biden administration and groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union.
“We’ve gone a different direction than Texas and some of those other states. I think we want to make sure we’re addressing the real concerns of our communities and that’s what we’ve been doing,” Hobbs said in Phoenix on Wednesday.
“We’re continuing to voice our frustration with the Biden administration and talk to them about how they can do better. But what Texas is doing is not the answer for Arizona,” the governor continued.
Hobbs deployed National Guard troops in December following the closure of the Lukeville Port of Entry, which ended up reopening earlier this month. At the same time, the Democrat launched a border security effort known as Operation SECURE, and she is asking for more funding for it in her annual budget proposal.
The Center Square previously reported that Hobbs has spoken with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas since the port’s reopening, and she said on Wednesday that there has been some “slow” progress has been made when it comes to working with the administration.
Twenty-five Republican governors signed onto a statement in support of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s border efforts through the Republican Governors Association.
“Instead of upholding the rule of law and securing the border, the Biden Administration has attacked and sued Texas for stepping up to protect American citizens from historic levels of illegal immigrants, deadly drugs like fentanyl, and terrorists entering our country,” it states.
On the legislative level, state House Speaker Ben Toma and Senate President Warren Petersen signed onto a letter addressed to Biden and Mayorkas backing Texas.
“Texas has every right to defend itself from the unprecedented flow of illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and countless threats at our southern border because of President Biden’s willful refusal to protect this nation,” Toma said in a statement on Monday. “I stand with Governor Abbott and call on Governor Hobbs to follow his lead and invoke Arizona’s constitutional right to defend itself.”
