WASHINGTON (Talk1370.com) -- The Biden administration sued Texas on Friday, aiming to block an order from Gov. Greg Abbott that calls on state troopers to pull over vehicles suspected of carrying undocumented migrants.
Abbott's order, announced earlier this week, aims to stop the spread of COVID-19, according to a statement. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland called the order "dangerous and unlawful."
“In our constitutional system, a State has no right to regulate the federal government’s operations,” the DOJ argued in a motion asking a federal judge to block Abbott’s order. “This restriction on the transportation of noncitizens would severely disrupt federal immigration operations."
“The Biden Administration has created a constitutional crisis between the federal government and the State of Texas," said Abbott in a statement. "This stems from the Biden Administration's refusal to enforce immigration laws and allow illegal immigrants with COVID-19 to enter our country. As our communities are overrun and overwhelmed by the record-high influx of migrants, cartels and smugglers profit off the chaos."
Abbott pointed to the influx of drugs such as fentanyl coming across the border. "This already dangerous situation continues to deteriorate as the Biden Administration knowingly imports COVID-19 into Texas from across the border—willfully exposing Texans and Americans alike," said Abbott. "President Biden has a duty and a responsibility to protect and uphold our nation’s sovereignty, yet he has long-since abdicated his authority to do so."
A White House spokesperson pushed back on claims that migrants are spreading COVID-19. "CBP provides a migrant with PPE from the moment they are taken into custody. And migrants are required to keep masks on at all times, including when they are transferred or in the process of being released. If anyone exhibits signs of illness in CBP custody, they are referred to local health systems for appropriate testing, diagnosis, isolation and treatment," said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.