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Greg Abbott Fires Back At Federal Judge For Blocking Executive Order On Migrant Vehicles

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott fired back at a federal judge for blocking his executive order instructing state troopers to stop drivers suspected of carrying illegal immigrants with an eye toward stopping the resurgent pandemic

“The Court’s recent order is temporary and based on limited evidence,” Abbot said in a statement said. “We look forward to providing the Court with the evidence to support the Governor’s Executive Order to protect Texans.”

“The Biden Administration has knowingly — and willfully — released COVID-19 positive migrants into Texas communities,” the statement added, “risking the potential exposure and infection of Texas residents. The Governor’s Executive Order attempts to prevent the Biden Administration from spreading COVID-19 into Texas and protect the health and safety of Texans.”

The judge’s order is temporary and will decide whether to make it permanent after a scheduled hearing for Aug. 13.

The Justice Department sued Abbott last week with AG Garland telling Abbott to “immediately rescind” the executive order, which he deemed “both dangerous and unlawful.”

From Fox News:

Abbott’s order, issued last Wednesday, had authorized Texas’ growing presence of state troopers along the border to “stop any vehicle upon reasonable suspicion” that it transports migrants. Troopers could then reroute vehicles back to their point of origin or impound them.

Abbott defended his order as necessary in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in his state, while civil rights groups and immigration advocates expressed concerns that troopers could invite racial profiling.

Fernando García, executive director for the Border Network for Human Rights, argued the state was hypocritical in its defense of the order because Abbott had banned certain COVID-19 prevention measures, including mask mandates in schools, according to the Texas Tribune. 

“It was very clear that the state was advancing an anti-immigrant agenda rather than concerns for border residents,” García said.

U.S. authorities revealed Monday that they likely picked up 19,000 unaccompanied children in July, exceeding the previous high of 18,877 in March.

The June total was 15,253, according to David Shahoulian, assistant secretary for border and immigration policy at the Department of Homeland Security, who singled out the Rio Grande Valley for having the largest numbers.

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