As the humanitarian crisis along Texas’ southern border continues, U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls issued a letter imploring President Biden to take action and help border states repel illegal border crossers.

Nehls partnered with Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs and 32 additional Republican lawmakers to send the letter.

The congressmen called on Biden to uphold Article IV, Section 4 of the United States Constitution, which requires the federal government to protect the states from invasion or domestic attack.

Nehls’ letter highlighted several instances of violence along the southern border, including an October 2021 attack where members of a Mexican cartel fired on Texas National Guard soldiers. The congressmen also pointed to the dangers average Americans face when cartel members venture onto their property while illegally crossing the U.S. border.

“Additionally, border ranchers are experiencing violence firsthand as cartel members, who are dressed in camouflage and carrying weapons to protect their drug lords, march over the border and across their lands,” wrote the congressmen. “Some ranchers have experienced over 15 armed drug traffickers on their property at one time.”

Nehls and Biggs blamed these attacks on cartels’ financial interests and included a statistic showing the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency seized roughly 11,201 pounds of fentanyl in 2021. The congressmen compared these numbers to seizures under former President Trump and stressed how illegal drug smuggling leads to catastrophic results for American citizens.

“This was a 134% increase from the previous year, during the Trump Administration,” states the letter. “These record amounts of illicit drugs have tragically resulted in more than 100,000 Americans dying from drug overdoses and fentanyl poisonings at the hands of the cartels since you have taken office. The proliferation of drugs across our border has made every state a border state.”

The congressmen also highlighted a February 2022 legal opinion issued by Arizona’s attorney general, which stated there were enough examples of well-documented, consistent violent episodes along the border to declare an invasion. They also referenced Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution, which allows states to “repel an invasion and defend their citizenry from the overwhelming and imminent danger.”

To close out the letter, Nehls and the other congressmen again called on Biden to follow Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution and provide support for states experiencing an invasion along their southern borders.

You are bound by your oath to the United States Constitution to protect the states from this escalating crisis of violence, drugs, criminal activity, and human trafficking executed by these dangerous individuals. This crisis is rupturing our communities and taking American lives. We urge you to uphold Article IV, Section 4 of the United States Constitution and take immediate steps to address this serious crisis and protect America from invasion.

Katy Marshall

Katy graduated from Tarleton State University in 2021 after majoring in history and minoring in political science.

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