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Greg Abbott Overrules Kamala Harris, Orders Texas National Guard To Help With Arrests At Border

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Texas Governor Greg Abbott just overruled Joe Biden’s failed border czar Kamala Harris and ordered the state’s National Guard to help the Department of Public Safety (DPS) arrest illegal immigrants at the US-Mexico border.

His office issued a press release that said: “Governor Greg Abbott today sent a letter to Major General Tracy R. Norris, Adjutant General of the Texas National Guard, ordering guardsmen to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) with arresting individuals for state charges related to the border crisis.

“During the Governor’s Border Security Summit in Del Rio in mid-June, the Governor announced that individuals who commit criminal trespass or other state offenses will be subject to arrest and confinement. This order builds upon the Governor’s disaster declaration that directs DPS to enforce all federal and state criminal laws including for criminal trespassing, smuggling, and human trafficking.

“To respond to this disaster and secure the rule of law at our Southern border, more manpower is needed—in addition to the troopers from DPS and soldiers from the Texas National Guard I have already deployed there—and DPS needs help in arresting those who are violating state law,” reads the letter.

“By virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Texas, I hereby order that the Texas National Guard assist DPS in enforcing Texas law by arresting lawbreakers at the border.”

From Fox News:

In June, border authorities stopped 188,829 attempted crossings, which was the highest this year, according to the Texas Tribune. The previous high of 180,641 was set in May.

Abbott, a Republican, held a security briefing at the Texas Statehouse in Austin this month, where sheriffs from local communities expressed their need for more manpower, more jail space, and more judges, FOX 7 of Austin reported.

“People think that this is a border-related issue and it is, but this is also an issue that affects counties across the entire state of Texas,” said Abbott.

Below is the letter Abbott sent to General Norris:

Beginning on May 31, 2021, I have issued multiple proclamations certifying under Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code that the surge of individuals unlawfully crossing the Texas-Mexico border poses an ongoing and imminent threat of disaster for certain counties and agencies in the State of Texas. 

To respond to this disaster and secure the rule of law at our Southern border, more manpower is needed—in addition to the troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and soldiers from the Texas National Guard I have already deployed there—and DPS needs help in arresting those who are violating state law.

As “Commander-in-Chief of the military forces of the State” under Article IV, Section 7 of the Texas Constitution, the governor can “call forth the militia to execute the laws of the State.” Section 431.111 of the Texas Government Code likewise recognizes that the governor can call on state military forces “to enforce state law” and “to assist civil authorities in guarding [or] conveying prisoners.” 

And Section 437.002 of the Texas Government Code recognizes that “[t]he governor has full control and authority over all matters relating to the Texas military forces.”

By virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Texas, I hereby order that the Texas National Guard assist DPS in enforcing Texas law by arresting lawbreakers at the border.

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