Abbott Faces GOP Skepticism Over Bold Immigration Crackdown

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has made immigration a central issue of his administration, and thanks to his efforts, immigration and border security is a top national issue in this election. But as he prepares to speak at the Republican National Convention this Wednesday, some Republicans see Abbott’s efforts as smoke and mirrors.

For three years, Abbott has criticized Biden on immigration through news conferences, social media, and different trips.

Muzaffar Chishti, a senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute, told the Houston Chronicle that Abbott is essentially acting as “the Trump administration in exile.” Abbott has intensified his stance on immigration by spending billions of state dollars on a militarized crackdown, arresting thousands of migrants, busing many to Democratic-led cities, and attempting to take over deportation duties from the federal government. This approach has placed Abbott in the national spotlight as Republicans look to retake the presidency and consider future leadership after Trump.

Abbott’s harsh measures have kept immigration in the national spotlight and pressured Democratic leaders to address border security more aggressively, and at the RNC, he will have a shot to gain national recognition. 

However, while immigration has decreased under Abbott’s administration, some Republicans recognize it is not because of his efforts.

“The Abbott administration is taking a lot of credit for that with all their fortifications. But the truth is that they have a lot of help from the Mexican government in Mexico City. That’s who’s really doing it,” said Todd Bensman, a fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, a right-wing think tank.

Others have recognized that Abbott’s policies are made just to look tough, but solve zero problems.

“I think the point is just political optics,” Kristin Etter, director of policy and legal services at the Texas Immigration Law Council told the Chronicle. “If you were to take a snapshot of Eagle Pass, it looks as if Texas is being tough on immigration, and arresting migrants. They did arrest migrants. But it had no impact on a migrant’s ability to stay in the country. Zero impact.”

State Republicans have also questioned whether his plans to build a wall would work, as a new study found it would take more than 30 years and 20 billion in investment –without counting maintenance– to be built.

While Abbott’s policies have made him a prominent figure in the national debate on immigration and a potential contender for future GOP leadership, people are starting to see that his plans don’t work, and this could ruin his only opportunity today at the RNC.