On the same day Texas Gov. Greg Abbott asked the Biden–Harris administration to secure the open border with Mexico, Kinney County Judge Tully Shahan (R) asked the governor to use his authority to stop illegal border crossings.
In a declaration of disaster filed Wednesday, Shahan asked Abbott to “immediately deploy 2,000 state military personnel” and “state military air assets” to the county to “repel an invasion and protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Texas.”
Shahan’s declaration cites Abbott’s authority to act under the Texas and U.S. constitutions.
“Kinney County has had enough of Biden’s open border policies. Texans are done waiting for someone else to fix our own border,” Kinney County attorney Brent Smith (R) told Texas Scorecard. “It’s time for Texans to stand together and solve this crisis ourselves. Whether it be a water barrier in the Rio Grande that prevents illegal entries or closing state highways at ports of entry to pressure Mexico into action, Texans are poised to act now.”
“We need solutions to this crisis immediately, and it’s very clear the federal government has no intention of protecting the Texas border,” Smith said. “Kinney County is looking forward to working with Governor Abbott to implement solutions that allow Texas to secure its own border. Texas will get it done.”
Abbott has sent Texas National Guard forces ostensibly to help the Texas Department of Public Safety and U.S. Border Patrol. Photos were recently taken of TNG troops allegedly helping illegal immigrants cross the open border into Texas.
Abbott has given no orders to stop all illegal border crossings.
Shahan explained the justification for Kinney’s request. He said the “health, life, and property” of local citizens remain “under an imminent threat of disaster from the human trafficking and cartel activity” and cited a report that 60,000 illegal immigrants are heading toward our open border.
He also expressed concerns about the spread of the Chinese coronavirus, pointing to a state official’s claim that it “poses a high risk of death.” He cites a report that says “up to 40 percent” of illegal immigrants have COVID.
Texas Scorecard sent an inquiry to Abbott’s office about the Kinney County declaration. No response was received before publication.
Kinney’s declaration was filed the same day Abbott held a press conference on the border crisis with nine other Republican governors. They asked President Joe Biden to implement their 10 “policy ideas” for border security.
Neither Abbott nor the other governors mentioned any action they would take to stop illegal border crossings themselves or a backup plan should the Biden–Harris administration ignore their ideas. Abbott also wouldn’t commit to closing ports of entry with Mexico.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis were not present.
Meanwhile, Shahan said Texans in his county are suffering. “Kinney County residents continue to sustain vast amounts of property damage and are threatened with imminent harm by the continual invasion of illegal immigrants.”
The full text of Kinney County’s disaster declaration can be found below.
