While Texas experiences unprecedented levels of illegal border crossings, Texans are planning to gather at the state Capitol and urge lawmakers to address the border crisis.
The April 29 “How Many More?” rally will “demand” that Texas lawmakers find solutions for the crisis. Featured speakers include musician Ted Nugent, U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, and retired ICE Special Agent Victor Avila.
The event’s organizer, Convention of States President Mark Meckler, highlighted the issue’s urgency, saying, “It’s time to stop the madness on our southern border.” Meckler also called on citizens to attend the rally and voice their support for border security measures.
“It’s up to all of us,” said Meckler.
The border crisis has worsened over the past year, with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection reporting that “CBP total encounters in February 2023 were 212,266, up approximately 2% from 208,511 in January 2023.”
According to the event’s website, 6 million illegal aliens have crossed Texas’ southern border since 2020, including at least 53 individuals on the U.S. terror watch list.
The “How Many More?” rally hopes to address the border crisis’ human cost and poses questions like “How many more Americans must die from fentanyl poisoning?” and “How many more Texans must be threatened, extorted, and held hostage?”
“The failure of our current border policies makes every American complicit in the spread of human misery,” wrote the event’s organizers. “We will no longer accept the erosion of America or its values by allowing the humanitarian crisis at our southern border to continue.”
The group said only 31 percent of Americans approve of the Biden administration’s handling of illegal immigration and is urging Texas lawmakers to declare an invasion and create a “Texas Border Defense Unit” to confront the Mexican drug cartels illegally transporting people and drugs across the southern border.
Organizers for the rally are also calling on Texas to declare Mexican cartels terrorist organizations and seize their bank accounts and assets.
“American money is their lifeblood. Stop the flow of funds through U.S. banks and financial technology companies that benefit the cartels.”
As Texans demand border security legislation, the Texas House Committee on State Affairs met yesterday and considered several measures addressing illegal immigration.
One measure, State Rep. Matt Schaefer’s (R–Tyler) House Bill 20, would establish the Border Protection Unit, which would manage border security operations. The unit would be responsible for catching and deterring illegal aliens crossing the border, and maintaining the barrier walls along the border.
While the State Affairs Committee also heard testimony on several other border security measures, including State Rep. Ryan Guillen’s (R–Rio Grande City) House Bill 7 and State Rep. David Spiller’s (R–Jacksboro) House Bill 65, all of the bills were left pending before the committee.
With less than 50 days left in Texas’ 88th Legislative Session, the window for lawmakers to pass border security legislation is closing.
Organizers for the “How Many More?” rally condemned inaction and stressed the importance of securing Texas’ southern border.
“Failure to act is undermining our national security,” said the rally’s organizers. “Texas has a moral and constitutional responsibility to act.”
