Governor Greg Abbott Tuesday held a press conference in Mission, Texas to discuss the state's response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis at the Texas-Mexico border.
Prior to the press conference, the Governor took an aerial tour of the border and received a briefing from members of the U.S. Border Patrol, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the National Border Patrol Council, and the Texas National Guard.
"The Biden Administration has created a crisis at our southern border through open border policies that give the green light to dangerous cartels and other criminal activity," said Governor Abbott.
"Border security is the federal government's responsibility, but the State of Texas will not allow the administration's failures to endanger the lives of innocent Texans. Instead, Texas is stepping up to fill the gaps left open by the federal government to secure the border, apprehend dangerous criminals, and keep Texans safe."
After surveying the area by DPS helicopter, Abbott called for the Biden administration to step up and start providing the safety and security that he said Texans and Americans deserve.
"We need more ICE detention facilities in this area immediately," said Abbott. "But the Border Patrol simply is not either given enough resources, and do not have enough resources to be able to deal with this overwhelming tidal wave of people who are coming across the border."
During the press conference Texas National Guard Adjutant General, Major General Tracy R. Norris announced the State is deploying over 500 National Guard Soldiers to the area to support the US Border Patrol.
"Texas is sending a message to any caravan and to any cartel member, we're ready. We're waiting for you," said Abbott. "If you dare step into the State of Texas, Texas will use every tool and strategy we can to arrest anybody who is violating the law."
Abbott concluded his press conference by assuring Texans that the state will step in to fill the gap created by the federal government and protect our communities from criminal activities along the border.
