Gov. Abbott says Texas has “constitutional right to self-defense”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday claimed the federal government has failed to enforce immigration laws enacted by Congress. He wrote that Texas’ constitutional authority to defend its territory “supersedes any federal statutes to the contrary.” Abbott’s statement follows the Supreme Court’s order Monday to permit U.S. Border Patrol agents to continue cutting about 30 miles of razor wire that Texas officials installed near the border city of Eagle Pass. Abbott in November declared that an invasion was taking place at the southern border and increased the border security roles of the Texas National Guard and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

How has the Biden administration responded? The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday sent a letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton demanding that federal agents be given full access to a riverfront park in Eagle Pass. Migrants regularly cross the Rio Grande into the 47-acre park, and DHS says Texas has blocked federal officials from entering the park. Meanwhile, some Democratic lawmakers have called for the Biden administration to take control of the Texas National Guard if it defies the Supreme Court order. The administration has not indicated that it would take that step.

Dig deeper: Read Addie Offereins’ report in Compassion about the escalating border showdown.