Republican governors are rallying around Texas in its standoff against the federal government at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass.
Last week, 25 governors issued a statement on behalf of the Republican Governors Association voicing their support for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to invoke a state’s constitutional right to self-defense.
“The authors of the U.S. Constitution made clear that in times like this, states have a right of self-defense, under Article 4, Section 4 and Article 1, Section 10, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution,” the signatories wrote.
“Because the Biden Administration has abdicated its constitutional compact duties to the states, Texas has every legal justification to protect the sovereignty of our states and our nation,” they added.
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott is the only Republican governor who did not sign onto the statement.
Still, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt appear to be the only governors who have seriously suggested sending over a significant amount of new personnel in light of the recent conflict.
DeSantis hinted at the possibility of sending the Florida State Guard, a recently re-formed statewide volunteer force, to the border during a Friday press conference in Kissimmee with other state officials.
“We may do more National Guard, but we also would be willing to do the Florida State Guard, and the reason why you would want to do the State Guard is because the president would not be able to federalize the State Guard,” DeSantis explained.
Meanwhile, Stitt is reportedly in talks with Texas about sending the Oklahoma National Guard back to the border, according to CBS’ KOTV-DT 6.
Some of the Oklahoma guard has previously been deployed to the area throughout Operation Lone Star, Texas’ latest multi-agency effort to crack down on illegal border crossings and secure the border.
Texas also still boasts scant personnel from North Dakota and Ohio from past deployments. And on Friday, Idaho Gov. Brad Little authorized a small envoy of state troopers to the Lone Star State as he proclaimed January to be “Idaho Stands With Texas in Securing the Nation’s Border Month.”
While Republican-led states have rallied around Texas and some have even provided material support, Democrat-led states have been asking the Biden administration for more federal dollars to harbor illegal aliens in state facilities.
Last month, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs requested $512 million from the administration for shutting down the Lukeville Port of Entry due to a shortage in border patrol agents, causing hours-long detours for travelers.
Arizona’s U.S. senators, Democrat Mark Kelly and Independent Krysten Sinema, followed suit, sending a joint letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security asking for help in light of the Lukeville closure.
Lukeville has since been reopened, but with somewhat limited capacity and many issues still remaining, per Fronteras.
Other Democrat states like New York have been dealing with the secondary effects of illegal immigration, as thousands who have already crossed the border make their way to overcrowded housing facilities in the Big Apple.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been the largest voice in the state pushing for federal help. However, he has stopped short of pushing for statutes that would deal with the problem head-on, like limiting health care and work permits for illegal aliens.
Instead, he has paraded the “humanitarian” policies currently in place.
“For over a year, we have asked the federal government to put forward a resettlement strategy, expedite work authorizations for asylum seekers, and provide New York City with much needed and meaningful financial support,” Adams stated in November.
