AMAC Exclusive – By Seamus Brennan
Since Joe Biden took office in January, U.S. Border Patrol has apprehended more than 1.6 million illegal aliens at the southern border between the United States and Mexico—including nearly 165,000 in October alone—the most annual apprehensions ever recorded. And these are just the ones who were caught (and mostly released). It does not even count the ones who got away.
As bad as the situation has been, the disarray and lawlessness looks to be only accelerating, even as Biden and his chosen border czar, Vice President Kamala Harris, appear content to pretend the problem does not exist. While the federal government continues to fail in its fundamental duty to enforce the law and defend the nation, some states have decided to take action of their own, raising new legal questions about the right of states to secure their own borders.
This idea first took root in Texas this summer when Governor Greg Abbott, after witnessing Biden’s inaction on combatting the border crisis, announced his intention to take matters into his own hands. “While securing the border is the federal government’s responsibility, Texas will not sit idly by as this crisis grows,” he said. “The state is working collaboratively with communities impacted by the crisis to arrest and detain individuals coming into Texas illegally. Our efforts will only be effective if we work together to secure the border, make criminal arrests, protect landowners, rid our communities of dangerous drugs, and provide Texans with the support they need and deserve.”
Since his initial June announcement, Abbott has taken additional steps to coordinate a more national response to combat the drastic rise in illegal immigration this year. In October, Abbott met with nine other state governors to discuss “the far-reaching impact of the Biden administration’s open border policies, particularly with the rise in fentanyl in communities across the nation”—a move that echoes legislation introduced by a Texas state senator earlier this year to create an inter-state compact that would “empower participating states to gain operational control of the border and enforce existing laws” following Congressional consent. This tactic has predictably invited pushback, with opponents of the legislation claiming that immigration law remains solely the purview of the federal government.
Though much of Abbott’s plan to enforce border security in his state has succeeded to a limited degree thus far—including the construction of barrier along the border and empowering state law enforcement agencies to arrest and try illegal aliens—the constitutionality of state-level initiatives to address federal immigration problems remains somewhat unclear.
Stephen Miller, former Senior Advisor to President Donald Trump, told Tucker Carlson recently that he believe state governments do in fact possess the constitutional authority to do what Joe Biden refuses to do. “I would argue,” Miller said, “that the appropriate constitutional remedy is Article IV, Section 4.”
Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution guarantees “to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion” and “against domestic Violence.”
“It does not say that that has to be in the form of a nation-state actor,” Miller continued. “It would provide the constitutional predicate for the Supreme Court, if they had the moral courage, to strike down this entire scheme, which is a blatant violation of our entire constitutional republican form of government.”
Michael Greenberger of the University of Maryland Law School echoed Miller’s argument and defended Abbott on the basis that Texas is merely enforcing its own pre-established laws. “I think he [Abbott] would have an argument that he’s protecting the sovereignty of the state’s borders, by having people who are not allowed to come into the state,” he said.
The far left, however, strongly opposes such measures. In July, the Biden Justice Department sued the state of Texas over its recent steps to secure the border. “Texas has no authority to interfere with the United States’ ‘broad, undoubted power over the subject of immigration,’” Attorney General Merrick Garland wrote, belying the administration’s repeated claims that it wishes to see the border crisis solved.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has similarly questioned Texas’s approach. “Abbott has several times over the past couple of months attempted to create his own version of immigration policy and to enforce his own version of immigration policy,” claimed Kate Huddleston of the ACLU of Texas. “But the Constitution does not allow him to do that. Immigration policy is up to the federal government.” Geoffrey Hoffman, director of the University of Houston’s immigration clinic, went so far as to say that Texas’s involvement “invites a constitutional catastrophe.”
These legal disputes will likely be settled by the courts in the months ahead. But as the border crisis continues to worsen while the Biden administration lets it happen, many Americans will likely see state-level strategies like that of Texas as a last but necessary resort to protect their national sovereignty.
As Abbott and other Republican elected officials across the country have made clear, they are both willing and eager to provide the leadership that Biden has failed to from the moment he was sworn in. And, as Biden may soon discover as his party begins the fight to retain its majorities in Congress next fall, voters are taking notice.
What are the other States?
All governors, GOP and Dems, should step in and utilize their Constitutional powers with their NG and State Police to secure our borders immediately. Those states that are not on the border should send troops/police and/or $$ to support this. I mean all governors…this is not just a Border State issue, it is a United States of America sovereignty issue. God and Country.
They’ll do nothing, just as they’ve done nothing in the past. It’s all political rhetoric.
Immigration is up to the FED, but securing the State’s borders is up to the State, if the FED is not doing its job!
I believe the current administration is intentionally trying to destroy our nation. The FACT so much is knowingly & spitefully done that is completely against the best interest of American citizens and the health, welfare and security of our nation, the actions have to be considered intentional. NEVER has our nation had an administration that caters to illegal & criminal activity as what has happened with the current administration. There is so much proven criminal activity within the administration surfacing and because the corruption is also within the defense and justice departments it’s becoming obvious something MUST be done in some sort of urgent emergency manner to hold investigations. There SHOULD be a HOLD on all/any bills, actions, etc. this administration is doing, has done or is planning until investigations are completed. Our country and it’s citizens have been put in danger by this administration.
It is about time Abbot. Trump recently visited him and probably advised him to get it going. The Democrat run Feds continuously flout and ignore the laws of the land and long established protocols. Conservatives need to do the same.
People don’t understand the real problem with this Invasion, and that’s what it is it’s an invasion, we are being invaded by people with few real job skills, limited education who will became in part or totally dependent on public assistance putting a drain on the system, but more importantly, the others that are being part of the hordes of people, I am talking the Criminal element, the Drug cartels, pushing their poison on the weak, and the Human Traffickers, The Sexual Predators, The Murders like MS-13, The Child Molesters, and people with Diseases that will go un-checked and the Worst of the , Worst the Terrorist people who kill indiscriminately without warning for no other reason, yes we should worry not only about the Border, we should worry who and what we have leading America, our leaders are the worst I have seen in my lifetime, we must get control of or Government in 2022!
God Save America!
Funny that the feds, for years have been battling illegal narcotic smuggling and human trafficking. We captured drug lords, and shut down many narcotic rings. But this year a new cartel emerged and it’s head is Joe Biden. Here’s a guy doing everything he can to aid the smuggling of narcotics and human trafficking into the US, including willfully managing the covert distribution of illegal aliens across all 50 states.
As far as I’m concerned, there should be outstanding arrest warrants for Joe Biden for his role in aiding and abetting human trafficking and narcotics smuggling.
Why are they waiting so long????? Texas, New Mexico and Arizona should have been working on their own wall years ago when the Federal Government failed them then. Texas should start using the millions of OUR dollars of material that has been abandoned! It will rust, rot or be stolen soon. USE it and make Brandon come and get it!!!
This ‘crisis’ is not illegal entry into our country, it is an INVASION and should be treated as such.
My hope is that Republicans step in and control the Border,but win the House/Senate and then re-elect Trump and then throw this piece of garbage Biden in the insane asylum along with his regime of USA haters/////////
It’s good that Texas is stepping up and doing as much as it is thought a State can do, but those “arrested” and processed through the legal (mostly misdemeanor) State system wind up having to be turned over to the feds instead of being directly “shown the door out of the country”, where they are then treated like those the feds catch – given a report back date and then released into the U.S. Our border security is still like an onion sack (mostly holes) and until either the feds get serious
(totally unlikely) or the States band together and take even bolder action on their own, taking on the responsibilities the feds REFUSE to enforce and actually secure the border, the invasion, crime, and drug trade will destroy this nation. As President Reagan stated: A nation without borders is no nation”. For years, we have had no Southern border and it a big open wound. States have the legal right to secure their own borders and that applies even more so to those States bordering foreign countries.
Just because our boarder doesn’t have 4 walls and a roof doesn’t mean that this isn’t our home.If some one breaks into your home do you welcome them or do you shoot them, I know what I would do.If they started shooting these criminals the rest would run back across the border and tell every body not to come because they are shooting us. This would bring atention to our border and it would stop illegal crossings.
It is beyond absurd that we even have to resort to these measures. We currently live in a lawless place where common sense and wisdom have left the building. It’s called Bizarro World. This is what happens when you allow fools and criminals to lead.
WHY does Amac and other conservative publications continue to characterize Biden’s actions as “FAILURES” when they are NOT FAILURES, but are SUCCESSFUL, INTENTIONAL, WELL-ORCHESTRATED Marxist treasonous acts with the clear objective to convert America into a totalitarian communist state? Call it what it is and quit using euphemistic, inaccurate, obtuse language which dignifies leftists by giving them credit for being rational, patriotic or some other characteristic they do not have. Quit attempting to “reach across the aisle” to these domestic enemies in the congress and agencies of the federal government. They are incorrigibly evil. Their policies and their persons need to be identified for what they are and who they are. That needs to be done without equivocation!
Jimmy Carter took the teeth out of INS in 1977 when he appointed Lionel Castillo head of the INS, it has been downhill ever since. Prior to this local law enforcement was very involved in enforcement as the federal government paid a bounty ($50 each) on illegals arrested locally. I was a cop in Houston and we were encouraged to stop, question and arrest illegals. Now that is considered racial profiling and most police departments won’t even allow their officers to question citizenship. I doubt there is any other country so handicapped in enforcement of immigration. All the fault of DEMOCRATS.
Invasion and immigration are two different things that need to be treated differently I think
It is about time!!!
He’s not failing, this is part of the “browning” of America to install perpetual Democratic party “leadership” of the country. Imagine the poor suckers who fled communist or very socialistic countries if the left actually takes. Also, I never thought I’d see the day when a communist would be nominated for a U.S. government position. GOP needs to vigorously campaign against any anti-American dink who votes to confirm her.
NOT ONLY DOES THIS CANCEROUS, POS FAIL AT THE BORDERS, he BREAKS his OATH OF OFFICE BY NOT PROTECTING THE BORDERS AND SHOULD BE IMPEACHED (ALL libs, TOO). ALL OF THE libs HAVE DESTROUED OUR ONCE GREAT NATION AND ARE THE ENEMY OF OUR NATION. U.S.A., RIP
This is what’s to be expected these days. Biden screws things up and his handlers have to come in behind him and clean up his messes. It’s all about ol’ slo’ joe’s decaying brain. Give that Joe freak an ice cream cone and a little girl’s hair to sniff and he’ll be doing just fine.
MAGA2024! TRUMP2024!
FJB! LET’S GO BRANDON!
Two little! Too late!
Liberty’s Last Stand……Stephen Coonts…..read it.
All of these things are part of the plan to destroy America and rebuild her as a socialist nation that will soon join the one-world government. Anyone with more than a few working brain cells (not Biden) knows that nothing good or sensible will come out of Biden’s head. His handlers will continue to control what he says and does. Of course, Harris is totally on the side of the left and the Muslims. She just gives out her stupid laugh at everything. The demo/socialists are truly wicked, evil, and satanic.
Now that President Harris is temporarily in charge while POTUS is having a brain scan [a.k.a.] colonoscopy… what changes will she make as Border Czar???
All of the people crossing the border illegally must go to California and stay there.
Biden is sending them all over the US of America in the dark of night. California is a
BIG state and can support them.
By definition…. they are “illegal aliens”…. look it up.
So here we go……plans get made, actions get taken, and the liberals throw it all on the courts. More legal haggling, more time wasted, more missed opportunity. And the present administration loves it….they just keep on doing what they are doing, never mind the consequences to the states, local communities, infrastructure, criminal activity, drug flow and cartel and gang activity. They just don’t care…..they want compliant voters and more followers for their socialist agenda. For the states on the border if has to be….”dam the torpedoes, full speed ahead”…..they are our last line of defense.
I live in kooky California and last week worked doing a petition in Santa Ana for Rent Control. It was not very productive as probably 90% of the residents were Hispanics who couldn’t speak English nor were they citizens and couldn’t sign it anyways! Now I’m working in another Orange County city on a different petition that I worked before the Covid Lockdown.
And I’ve noticed that the populace has changed. Because of our kooky Governor Newsom’s close association with Jackass Joe’s idiotic policies, many thousands of Republicans and “white” people in general have left California. Now, at least 40% of the People are Asians, many driving BMW and Mercedes vehicles. They too walk by acting like they don’t understand English! These are people that our Government has helped giving money for housing,
food stamps and other welfare benefits.
California is becoming a third world state where even a popular west coast burger chain is closing multiple locations and in discussion with states like Florida to relocate to. This is NOT THE AMERICA that We the People even recognize nor desire! . . . If not for the weather I would also leave this “foreign” country and may soon do so!
Texas and a bunch of other states need to secede from this criminal communist America and build our own country. We can take the Constitution with us as the communists in control now are not using it. I believe that we could have approximately half of the states join us…the states that have most of the oil, gas and minerals, harbor ports, etc. One of two things are in our future…..a revolution to take back our country or a split into two Americas….one that is run by liberal communists and one that is a Republic government that adheres to the Constitution and is actually one of the people. This will happen if we cannot change things at the voting boxes or we cannot wait until the next election.
Wonder how many came in to our country without being caught? Someone said send them to California…our taxes are already terrible. How about sending them to the neighborhoods of the politicians that support them?
Hooray! Texas governor Greg Abbott! for your stand of taking legal action to close your southern border to keep illegal immigrants out of your state! My hat’s off to you! I hope you can get as many governors to do the same thing.
On another issue: I wonder if Joe Biden (I refuse to call him POTUS) had his fingers crossed when he took the Oath of Office last January. I didn’t watch his inauguration.
As far as I, a Texas, can see, a lot of tough talk and no real action. If I were Governor, I would call a special session to get the legislature involved and in the meantime, SHUT the border with Mexico. Also, any invaders would be shipped straight to Delaware. See how they handle about 2/3 million invaders on their states budget. Biden is actually breaking the law by not enforcing laws passed by
Congress. Of course, he may not even know what is going on.
Hey, open borders is actually solving America’s problem with illegals entering out country. As soon as America becomes the 3rd world country (under Biden) these people are running away from, they will do everything in their power to escape Ameica.
This is all about stealing the elections because democrats know on their own merits for what they stand for they would never win. Biden doesn’t really care about these illegal immigrants only THEIR “VOTE”!!! Biden is wicked personified!!!
Who says a border wall has to be located on the border? Border states should build on state land and give the middle digit to Brandon.
What have they been WAITING FOR??? All this time has passed,,millions of illegals passing thru… and they JUST NOW are going to do something about it !!! HELLOOoo !!
Hopefully the states can and will do whatever it takes to secure the border. What we don’t want is armed citizens to take this task on themselves. At some point, this may very well happen. It won’t be pretty or end well.
It became more than obvious why the administration is pro-open borders when Biden began spouting his intention to fight for amnesty for those illegal border crossers – to vote Democrat. That’s been the reason/intent all along so Dems would forever be elected, re-elected.
Seriously, could we get the Republicans to move some of the trillions of $$$$$$$$$$
and send all of the illegal aliens to the huge state of California. They say California is the 5th
largest country. They could become even bigger. And unburden the SMALL towns all across the US of American and its tax payers!
Once again no mention of the BBB, (Bungling Biden Bill), passed in the House Friday the 19th of November, 2021, that if passed in the Senate will end this country as we know it. The Imposter In Chief and his Commie thugs do not obey our laws. In affect they are guilty of imposing a treasonous tyrannical government upon us which mentioned in our Constitution allows the citizens of of a takeover to form state Militias to take the country back. I’m hoping this is happening now because much longer and it will be no use. We the people must fight back to keep our right to freedom and prosperity in our country. May God help us all!!
It all comes down this … why pay taxes!? When/if people say ‘enough is enough’ and close their wallets, what is Biden going to do? Just asking. This democratic republic was designed to have people control government not government control people. The primary responsibility of the President is to secure the nation against foreign and domestic enemies. Is that happening?
I hope that they are successful. As a senior I struggle to pay my bills. How will these people survive. Only by breaking the law and working under the radar
Stop blaming BIDEN! He’s just a PUPPET! America’s enemies ( ie., traitors) are at “the helm”. What else do you expect? We let it happen. Voting doesn’t count. No patriots left. Who was Mucius Scaevola?
For months now, we’ve all known what’s going on at the border, with reports that Gov. Abbott and others were doing something to stop the illegals from crossing. So, when are they going to stand by their word, that is reported over and over again. We need the see reports that they ARE stopping this atrocity that’s happening to American Citizens. Our safety and security has been at stake for too long.
As far as Greg Abbott goes it’s too little too late despite the rhetoric. Illegals are still pouring over the border at record numbers and so whatever he thinks he’s doing has had minimal effect in Texas. I know this I’m going to be voting for a new different governor.
IMHO: The federal government is derilect in its duty to protect the USA from invasion by foreign or domestic enemies. The foreign enemies are invading our country without federal resistance because the domestic enemies who are infesting the government are trying to overthrow the USA. Since the federal government has gone rogue, the southern border states have an obligation to take over and protect their state(s), and since this invasion extends to the entire country, they also have a duty to help protect the rest of the USA. Build the wall and enforce the immigration laws! Go Governor Abbot!!!
Our government does not care about Americans! Quite the contrary, they are hell bent on destroying America to serve themselves.
It seems to me that it’s the obligation of state governments to protect its citizens. If building a wall or using the National Guard to keep illegals out could be solutions, the governors have an obligation to take these steps. Immigration policy seems to mean saying who can come in legally and who cannot. Definitely a “policy” of letting anyone walk across the border is not compliant with Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution that constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-4/section-4/ guarantees; “to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion” and “against domestic Violence.” There certainly is domestic violence involved with what’s going on as well as an invasion into any state having these people thrust upon them. Actually, this is bullying by the federal government on a huge scale!
I heard from a liberal acquaintance that building a wall along the southern border will interfere with the natural migration patterns of many species – and, of course, illegal aliens. She didn’t include that group.