An escalating border dispute between Texas Governor Greg Abbott and President Biden, tension has surged as South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, a Republican from an interior state, has pledged to personally deliver razor wire if federal forces intervene with Abbott’s control of a crucial park in Eagle Pass.
Following a Supreme Court ruling allowing Border Patrol agents to cut concertina wire installed by Texas along the border near Eagle Pass, Governor Noem expressed strong support for Abbott’s stance. The court’s decision, influenced by two conservative justices joining liberals to overturn a lower court’s order, has fueled the controversy surrounding the park, reportedly a key route for illegal migrants.
During an interview with Fox News on Thursday, January 25, 2024, Governor Noem declared, “I’ll drive in more razor wire from South Dakota if I have to, for [Abbott] to do his job.” She underscored the importance of governors maintaining control over their National Guard, emphasizing their constitutional responsibility as commanders-in-chief.
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“Governors are commanders-in-chief. We’re responsible for the men and women of our National Guard. It’s a heavy responsibility that weighs on our shoulders, and so we never engage our National Guard soldiers and those men and women unless it’s incredibly important,” she added.
This development intensifies amid rising tensions on the southern border, with Abbott and other Republican governors resisting what they perceive as federal overreach. Abbott, defying federal orders, argued against states being subject to the whims of a “lawless president,” invoking the constitutional duty of the federal executive branch to enforce laws protecting states.
Noem’s commitment to supplying razor wire reflects the heightened debate on border control, echoing concerns about the influx of migrants and potential compromises to national security. The disputed park in Eagle Pass symbolizes broader challenges faced by states in managing border security amid an escalating crisis.
Senator Ted Cruz criticized President Biden’s handling of the border situation, accusing him of intentionally breaking the border. Dismissing claims for more federal funding, Cruz emphasized the governors’ role as commanders-in-chief responsible for their National Guard.
As tensions rise, some Democrats, including Texas lawmakers, advocate for President Biden to federalize the state’s National Guard troops overseen by Abbott’s administration. However, Abbott and like-minded governors, such as Ron DeSantis of Florida and Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, find support among counterparts who oppose what they see as a lax approach to the border crisis.
Governor Noem asserted, “[Biden] is so out of touch. He is remaking this country. We will be Europe within a year or two if we allow President Biden to continue this invasion of our country.” Noem pledged solidarity with Governor Abbott, emphasizing the need to stand firm against the influx of over 6 million people entering the country illegally.
Amid the unfolding border dispute, historical parallels are drawn to the federalization of the National Guard during the integration crisis in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957. Representative Tony Gonzales cautioned against such federal action, stating, “[Biden] better not; you know he may be a fool, but I hope he’s not an idiot,” referencing the last instance initiated by former President Dwight Eisenhower.
