Two former Trump administration officials criticized Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Tuesday declaration to use state authority to secure the border as merely a “P.R. stunt,” according to a joint statement released by the Citizens for Renewing America.
Former Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought and former Deputy Director of Homeland Security Ken Cuccinelli said Tuesday that Abbott’s order didn’t go far enough to authorize the deportation of illegal migrants crossing into Texas. Abbott made the declaration Tuesday, invoking the Invasion Clause of the Texas constitution to use state powers to “turn back” illegal migrants to Mexico, build a border wall and designate the Mexican cartels as terrorists. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Biden’s Outgoing Border Chief Tries To Boost Morale In Farewell Message As Illegal Immigration Spikes)
“Until Governor Abbott removes illegals back across the border and out of the country, this will continue to be a P.R. stunt — and Texas and the U.S. are worse off because of it,” the two former Trump administration officials said Tuesday.
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Our latest statement from @russvought and @KenCuccinelli reacting to @GovAbbott‘s latest announcement https://t.co/2Se2vYhFB5 pic.twitter.com/jRSRppXX9J
— Citizens for Renewing America (@amrenewcitizen) November 15, 2022
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) authorities encountered over 2.3 million migrants at the southern border in fiscal year 2022. Amid the influx of migrants, Abbott started “Operation Lone Star” in March 2021 to mobilize state resources to fill a void in border security he argued the Biden administration failed to address.
The state operation has largely meant more Texas Department of Public Safety troopers patrolling roads and ranches along the border.
“While this sounds good — Governor Abbott has not invoked the full authority of an invasion declaration,” Vought and Cuccinelli wrote.
Abbott has also bused thousands of illegal migrants to several sanctuary cities, including Washington, D.C., New York City and Chicago.
Abbott’s office didn’t respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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