Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump said Thursday that Texas should be given "full support to repel the invasion" of illegal immigrants pouring through the border, encouraging willing states to "deploy their guards to Texas to prevent the entry of illegals."
Meanwhile, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley joined Trump and the rising chorus of Republicans who are voicing support for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in his fight against the federal government over the southern border, saying it's "absolutely ridiculous" that President Joe Biden is working against Abbott and others trying to protect their citizens.
In a Truth Social post, Trump blasted the Biden administration for "fighting to tie the hands of Governor Abbott."
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that federal border agents can remove the razor wire erected by Abbott's Texas National Guard. But the ruling did not prohibit Texas from adding more, and that's what he's doing.
Trump is calling for more than that.
"... We encourage all willing States to deploy their guards to Texas to prevent the entry of Illegals, and to remove them back across the Border," he posted to Truth Social. "All Americans should support the commonsense measures by Texas authorities to protect the Safety, Security, and Sovereignty of Texas, and of the American people."
Haley, trying to hang on to her candidacy for the GOP's nomination for president, took to social media site X to exhort Abbott on his efforts to keep illegal immigrants from crossing the border.
"Governor Abbott is right: the state of Texas has every right to defend itself and its borders. It's absolutely ridiculous that Joe Biden is trying to stop governors from doing everything they can to protect their citizens," Haley posted to X.
Trump and Haley join the 24 Republican governors who released a joint statement Thursday also supporting Abbott as reported by the Washington Examiner.
"We stand in solidarity with our fellow Governor, Greg Abbott, and the State of Texas in utilizing every tool and strategy, including razor wire fences, to secure the border," the governors wrote, in part.
Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, introduced legislation — the State Border Security Act — Thursday that would prohibit the federal government from removing the razor wire fencing.
Abbott on Wednesday said in a statement that he had "already declared an invasion" to "invoke Texas' constitutional authority to defend and protect itself."
"That authority is the supreme law of the land and supersedes any federal statutes to the contrary," he wrote.
Trump agreed.
"... Texas has rightly invoked the Invasion Clause of the Constitution, and must be given full support to repel the Invasion," Trump posted.
Haley pointed out that she's been on the other side of Biden, too.
"Biden was part of the administration that sued me when I passed one of the toughest anti-illegal immigration laws in the country as governor of South Carolina," she wrote in the post.
Trump vowed on Day 1 of his presidency to execute on the "largest domestic deportation operation in history."
"Those Biden has let in should not get comfortable because they will be going home," he posted.
Mark Swanson ✉
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture and politics.
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