After the Biden administration sued the State of Texas for the installation of a marine border barrier in the Rio Grande River—intended to deter illegal crossings—Republican State Rep. Brian Harrison of Midlothian is telling President Joe Biden, “Do your job, or get the hell out of the way.”
“States are sovereign,” Harrison said during an interview on Newsmax. “I’m tired of states bowing down—prostrating ourselves to the altar of the almighty federal government. States [have] the clear constitutional authority to secure our borders. I’m glad Governor Abbott’s doing this, and I’m committed to making sure he has every legislative tool necessary.”
Gov. Greg Abbott announced in June that the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas National Guard would install a “marine barrier” consisting of a string of buoys to discourage illegal aliens from crossing the Rio Grande River, leading to the federal lawsuit.
The federal government is citing environmental concerns over the marine barrier, but Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Chris Olivarez told Newsmax that such citations are “hypocrisy.”
We’re seeing more trash, more debris, used hygiene products that are on the United States side, yet there’s no conversations or outcry or outrage about that, but yet they’re focused on a marine barrier that’s in the middle of the river.
Good morning from #EaglePass! I explain & describe the real environmental issues caused by illegal immigrants who discard trash, used hygiene products, & other items as they cross the Rio Grande.
The State of #Texas will maintain border operations & continue fortifying… pic.twitter.com/TCe9zPUv08
— Chris Olivarez (@LtChrisOlivarez) July 25, 2023
“This is the state of Texas,” said Harrison. “We are the first impacted by this disaster. We are the most impacted. And Mr. President, if you or your team is watching, I would say this to you: Do your job, or get the hell out of the way.”
Abbott told Biden in a letter Monday that it’s his job to secure the U.S. borders, but since he continues ignoring his duty, Texas will fight the federal government in court over the demands to remove the buoy barrier.
Chris Russo, president of Texans for Strong Borders, told Texas Scorecard, “It is obvious to anyone seriously examining the issue that the Biden administration has actively undermined border security and subverted federal immigration law in clear violation of the federal government’s responsibility to the states in Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution. Their actions to prevent Texas from securing its own sovereign borders against invasion are a clearly malicious and ideologically driven response to Texas taking its security into its own hands.”
Texas lawmakers failed to pass meaningful border security measures during the regular legislative session earlier this year, leading advocates to call for a special session to address the crisis.
