(The Center Square) – New Mexico lawmakers are not happy with Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s decision to string razor wire on the New Mexico-Texas border, a move they argue is illegal, wasteful, and a political stunt.
The barriers, mostly near Sunland Park, New Mexico were erected by Texas National Guard troops.
Abbott argues that the wire is necessary to deter illegal immigrants from entering the state; he said that they enter the country in New Mexico before going to El Paso.
El Paso also shares a border with Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, one of the most dangerous cities in the world.
“Texas installs fencing along NEW Mexico border. Our barriers around El Paso forced the migrants crossing illegally to enter into New Mexico. They then entered into El Paso from there. To end that, we are building a barrier on the New Mexico border,” Abbott posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, last month.
U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez, D-New Mexico, was among those who slammed the governor’s decision. He argued that the barrier is unconstitutional.
“I write today to denounce the construction of your Texas-New Mexico concertina wall and demand the immediate removal of this unconstitutional barrier,” Vasquez wrote in a letter to Governor Abbott. “This interstate barrier was erected without input from a single official from the state of New Mexico. Furthermore, not a single impacted stakeholder or elected official was consulted in this process, including the International Boundary and Water Commission – the Commission responsible for the U.S-Mexico boundary and the enforcement of water treaties.”
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, also criticized the barrier.
He called it “offensive,” among other things.
“This razor wire fencing the Texas Governor is putting up along our states’ border is dangerous and absurd,” Heinrich posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “It’s also ridiculous, offensive, and a total waste of taxpayer dollars.”
Additionally, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham does not support the barrier. She referred to it as a political stunt.
“The state stands ready to assist as requested by federal or local partners to ensure individuals are treated with compassion and respect while maintaining public safety,” a spokesman for Lujan Grisham’s press office told KFox 14. “We encourage Gov. Abbott to turn his attention away from a never-ending stream of political stunts and toward working in earnest for the people of the state he was elected to represent.”
