(The Center Square) – Texas lawmakers have called on Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special legislative session to address the border crisis.
Their calls come after Kinney County Attorney Brent Smith called on Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in May to create a state agency specifically tasked with focusing on border security. Alliance for a Safe Texas also called on the governor to call a special legislative session to prioritize border security bills.
But with thousands of foreign nationals, mostly single military-age men, currently walking right into Texas unabated, state Reps. Brian Harrison and Matt Schaefer on Wednesday called on Abbott to immediately call a special legislative session to address the “invasion on the southern border.”
Harrison said, “The border INVASION risks the future of our republic. Biden is responsible, but Texas must do all we can to fight the Biden Border Crisis.”
In a joint statement, they said, “Mexican cartels are killing tens of thousands of Americans with deadly Chinese-sourced fentanyl, and they are in complete control of the border. To combat the economic, public health, and national security crisis President Biden has created at our border, resulting in unprecedented loss of life and property, and the invasion of which is estimated to be greater than 10 million illegal crossings—including from human traffickers, cartels, gangs, and persons on the terror watch list [sic] – Texas must do everything in our power to lock down the border ourselves.
“While we appreciate Governor Abbott’s efforts to date, more is required. Texas must use every tool at our disposal to repel this invasion.”
Harrison and Schaefer authored bills to secure the border in the regular legislative session, including HB 20, which included a Border Protection Unit, and the Texas version of the federal health authority Title 42, called the Texas Title 42 Act. Both were killed in the Republican-controlled House.
Smith’s request also called on the governor to prioritize legislation that would include key provisions of HB 20, including creating an effective Texas agency tasked solely with border security.
“While DPS is very effective in performing criminal interdiction within the state of Texas, Governor Abbott’s state mission centers upon the securement of the Mexican border itself. The simple truth is that the command structure and mission training of DPS is not suitable to undertake the task of securing the actual border,” Smith explained.
He also pointed to the apprehension data the governor’s office puts out every week only shows that the border is not secure. He said, “Touting the high number of arrests and drug seizures occurring within the interior of the state only gives evidence of our failure to secure the actual border and preventing [criminal actors and crime] from traveling into the interior of Texas.”
“You can pass all kinds of border protection laws, but unless you have the agency and personnel to enforce them, they’re meaningless,” Smith told The Center Square.
“The magnitude of this crisis cannot be overstated,” he said. “The tools that are created to confront this border crisis will ultimately determine the fate of Texas.”
Harrison and Schaefer also asked the governor to “use every state and federal constitutional authority he has to stop the invasion and deport illegal migrants and to call the legislature back immediately to provide additional legislative authorities and tools so that Texas can save our state and America from the Biden Border Crisis.”
Their calls for a special session came as Texans have watched a record number of foreign nationals illegally enter Texas between ports of entry in the Eagle Pass and El Paso regions in the last few days. The measures Gov. Abbott has taken to date, including installing marine barriers, container blockades and concertina wire, have not stopped illegal entry between ports of entry.
Previous special sessions Gov. Abbott called earlier this year solely addressed property tax relief. The legislature is expected to convene again for another special session in October, reportedly to consider school choice legislation. Gov. Abbott has also said he would consider calling a special session to revisit the 50 bills he vetoed solely because the legislature couldn’t agree on a property tax relief package.
