Gov. Greg Abbott gave a speech at the Republican National Convention, escalating his attacks on the Biden administration and vowing to end illegal immigration.
This speech comes as Abbott is gaining more national recognition as a key figure on the immigration discussion, and he knows that the issue is essential to raise his profile.
“Biden deserted his duty on his first day in office,” Abbott told delegates at the convention held in Milwaukee. “He gutted President Trump’s policies, and the result has been catastrophic.”
Abbott talked about his efforts at the border, busing migrants to Democrat-run cities, installing razor wire along the border, and his efforts to build a wall with Texas money. He also talked about his fight against the Biden administration.
“When Joe Biden ordered to cut that razor wire, I ordered the National Guard to triple the razor wire on the border,” he said. “When Biden took 50 acres of Texas border property to illegally process up to 5,000 illegal immigrants a day, I directed the Texas National Guard to take back our land and wire it shut.”
He also mentioned the case of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old Houston girl who was murdered by two migrants. He said that the case was “the price we’ve paid for Joe Biden’s open border.”
However, there are several studies that have found that U.S. citizens are more likely to commit crimes at a higher rate than immigrants.
Abbott’s speech was more about gaining popularity than offering real solutions to the problem, and some Republicans have begun to realize this. Some experts have argued that while illegal crossings are down, it is not because of Abbott’s populist 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.
According to the Texas Tribune, recent data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection showed a 32% decrease in migrant apprehensions in June following Biden’s executive order limiting asylum grants. This came after apprehensions peaked in March.
Convention delegates, however, supported Abbott’s stance, chanting “send them back!” during his speech.
While Abbott was also expected to talk about school vouchers –his highest priority in the state–, he didn’t mention the issue.
