In a recent radio interview, Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated that the state has exhausted all options to manage the border, stopping short of authorizing the use of force against migrants entering the country illegally. The comments, made during a conversation with Dana Loesch on January 5, have sparked concerns about the potential repercussions of such rhetoric on immigration policies.
Responding to Loesch’s query about the extent of gubernatorial authority to enforce border laws, Abbott outlined the various measures Texas has undertaken, including constructing barriers and passing legislation making it illegal to enter the state from another country. However, he emphasized that the state refrains from using lethal force against individuals crossing the border due to potential murder charges from the Biden administration.
Despite requests for clarification, Governor Abbott did not respond to inquiries from The Texas Tribune. Texas Democrats expressed immediate concern after the comments circulated on social media via Heartland Signal, a Chicago-based website affiliated with WCPT radio station.
This isn’t the first time Abbott’s rhetoric on immigration has raised eyebrows. In 2019, a day before a mass shooting in El Paso, Abbott’s campaign distributed a fundraising mailer discussing a “Hispanic invasion” and the need to defend the border. Although Abbott acknowledged mistakes and met with El Paso lawmakers to address concerns, he has continued to use similar language, including in the recent interview with Loesch.
The remarks coincide with growing unease regarding the language employed by Republican figures in discussions about immigration. Former President Donald Trump’s recent comments likening immigrants to “poisoning the blood” of America drew parallels to Adolf Hitler’s language in “Mein Kampf.” Trump later clarified his intent.
The discussion of shooting migrants at the border is particularly sensitive in the aftermath of an incident involving Michael Sheppard, a former warden accused of shooting at a group of Mexican immigrants in September 2022. One migrant died, and another was injured. Abbott’s aggressive stance on border control includes deploying law enforcement and the National Guard, securing $1.5 billion from the Legislature for more barriers, and signing a bill criminalizing border crossings between ports of entry.
The signed bill faces legal challenges from immigrant rights groups, El Paso County, and the U.S. Department of Justice, with lawsuits seeking to prevent its enforcement. Abbott argues that state actions are necessary due to perceived inadequacies in the Biden administration’s efforts to secure the border amid an increase in crossings in recent years.
