It is something frequently heard from people frustrated with the flood of illegal immigrants crossing the Texas border – why aren’t they being shot? It’s a serious question and Governor Greg Abbott recently addressed it on a talk radio show.
Abbott was being interviewed by conservative radio host Dana Loesch last week. Video from that interview was posted on social media Thursday. In short, Governor Abbott is heard saying that he is doing everything possible to secure the southern border except shooting the illegals.
In a wide-ranging interview with a right-wing radio host, Gov. Greg Abbott defended the scope and legality of Texas border initiatives, at one point saying: “The only thing that we are not doing is we’re not shooting people who come across the border because, of course, the Biden administration would charge us with murder.”
The comment, which Abbott made to radio host Dana Loesch on Jan. 5, emerged Thursday when it was posted by a social media account, drawing condemnation from Democrats.
After criticizing legal challenges to Texas border initiatives, Loesch asked Abbott what was the “maximum pressure” the governor could legally exert to implement a secure border.
“We are deploying every tool and strategy that we possibly can,” Abbott said before adding the comment about not shooting migrants.
That might sound a little far-fetched for Abbott to think he’d be charged with murder, or the officer who shot an illegal immigrant would be charged, but given the fact that Biden’s DOJ has filed lawsuits against the state over border security initiatives, it is a reasonable conclusion. Currently, there are two lawsuits pending against Texas from the DOJ. Think about it – Joe Biden is refusing to do his job, the number priority of his office, to protect the homeland, and is aggressively fighting against Texas doing it.
Remember WhipGate? A Democrat activist with ties to Julian Castro in Texas started a phony story on social media that went viral. It was a story about Border Patrol agents on horseback managing the flow of Haitian migrants crossing the Rio Grande River. The agents on horseback were doing as they have been trained to do. They use double reins on horseback to control their horses. The Democrat claimed that the Border Patrol agents were whipping the illegals with the horse reins. Immediately, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and other Democrats assumed the agents were abusing illegal immigrants and said they would pay. Why wait for due process, right? The open borders crowd favored the illegals over those who protect our border. In the end, the agents were found to be not guilty of any of that. Yet, as the investigation went on, some were suspended, some lost pay. There were never any apologies for how they were treated. In a side note, Secretary Mayorkas at first came out in support of the agents before Biden and his administration came out against them. Then he aligned with Biden. He didn’t stick up for his Border Patrol agents.
Abbott’s comments was posted by a progressive group, Heartland Signal. Democrats called Abbott’s comments insensitive and dangerous.
“This bloodthirsty approach to governance is dangerous not only for migrants and Texans of color — but for our entire state,” Gilberto Hinojosa, chair of the Texas Democratic Party, said in a statement.
“Apparently, federal law is the only thing keeping Greg Abbott from murdering immigrants,” U.S. Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Los Angeles, said on X, formerly Twitter. “What the hell is wrong with you @GovAbbott?”
Apparently, federal law is the only thing keeping Greg Abbott from murdering immigrants.
What the hell is wrong with you, @GovAbbott? https://t.co/HGpQk80vyq
— Rep. Jimmy Gomez (@RepJimmyGomez) January 11, 2024
He’s a congressman from California.
Governor Abbott has maintained all along that Texas has a constitutional right to protect its border with Mexico, though Biden continues to fight him. Immigration is a federal responsible but it is a congressional responsibility, as they pass the laws. In a sane world, Congress would be working with border states to secure the border. This is Biden’s America and he simply doesn’t care. The Biden border crisis is intentional.
The Texas Democrat Party Chair released a lengthy statement and went into the kind of hyperbole we expect from unhinged Democrats.
“The only thing stopping Greg Abbott from ordering law enforcement to shoot migrant women and children are murder charges. Time and time again, Greg Abbott and Texas Republicans have made it abundantly clear they have no morality or humanity,” Hinojosa said.
“Their only solutions to ‘secure’ the border are separating families, medieval death traps, and mass imprisonment of migrants and Texans who are perceived to be undocumented by law enforcement. This is the same rhetoric endorsed by domestic terrorists such as the El Paso shooter, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and former President Donald Trump — who recently echoed Adolf Hitler by accusing immigrants of ‘poisoning the blood of our country.’” he continued.
The Democratic Party official went on to criticize a recently signed anti-illegal immigration law that allows state and local law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants, which the Biden administration says interferes with the federal government’s authority, frustrates U.S. immigration operations and proceedings and hurts relations with foreign governments.
Abbott would not just wily-nily okay shooting at the border. It could be an option in extreme circumstances, though.
What we need is a new president who takes border security seriously. Until that happens, border states are on their own. What is Governor Abbott to do? He is doing what he can to protect Texans. Voters are beginning to see what is happening, after the national media ran cover for Biden for so long. It is so bad that it can’t be ignored. Immigration is a top issue with voters this cycle.