In a major alignment of political figures, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a candidate with slim chances in the presidential race, along with 45th President Donald Trump and other prominent individuals, have expressed their support for Texas in its recent conflict with the Biden administration over immigration control at the border. Kennedy, running as an independent, publicly backed Texas’ efforts to secure its borders, highlighting the administration’s shortcomings with a pointed statement on social media: “A country without borders is not a country at all.”
This issue gained further attention following a Supreme Court decision on Monday, which authorized Border Patrol to dismantle razor wire barriers at a riverside park in Eagle Pass, a site increasingly used by migrants entering the U.S. illegally.
Trump, leading the GOP race for 2024, emphasized the necessity for Americans to back Texas’ “commonsense measures.” He pledged to collaborate with Governor Greg Abbott and other states bordering Mexico to “stop the invasion, seal the border, and rapidly begin the largest domestic deportation operation in history.” Trump’s message on Truth Social was unequivocal: “Those Biden has let in should not get comfortable because they will be going home.”
The controversy extends beyond the political arena, affecting various states and their leaders. Senator John Kennedy from Louisiana criticized the Biden administration’s border policies for causing nationwide turmoil, including in his state. Similarly, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin condemned the federal government’s border security efforts and declared Virginia’s support for Texas and its “constitutional right to defend itself.”
A collective voice emerged from over two dozen Republican governors, issuing a statement condemning the Biden administration’s inaction and lack of accountability for the crisis at the southern U.S. border. They criticized the administration for its legal challenges against Texas, which has taken proactive steps to safeguard Americans from the consequences of illegal immigration, including the influx of fentanyl and potential terrorist threats.
The governors’ statement declared unity with Governor Abbott and Texas, endorsing the use of all available means, such as razor wire barriers, to fortify the border. They criticized the Biden administration for not enforcing existing immigration laws and for the mass parole of migrants who entered the U.S. illegally.
The deployment of razor wire in Eagle Pass’s Shelby Park, an initiative by Governor Abbott, has become a symbol of Texas’ measures to discourage migrant crossings. This month, Texas took over the park, barring Border Patrol agents’ entry, heightening tensions with the federal government. The Department of Homeland Security’s recent demand for access to the park marks the latest development in this ongoing dispute, with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stating that the state does not intend to heed the Biden administration’s demands.