Texas Governor Greg Abbott criticized President Biden on Friday for what he called the federal government’s “despicable” treatment of US Border Patrol agents working for the Lone Star State.
During a press conference at the Anzaldúas International Bridge between the US and Mexico, Abbott defended the agents following a recent report that the Department of Homeland Security was ready to discipline them for last year’s infamous incident.
“It is despicable that these Border Patrol agents, who were on those horses, who were using the reins to control those horses, have been completely exonerated by all law enforcement agencies, and yet the Biden administration still seems intend to punish those Border Patrol officers,” he said.
“As governor, I would be more than happy, I would be honored to have those border patrol officers be part of the Texas team to protect the border.”
Fox News reported Wednesday that DHS officials were preparing proposals to slap officers, who have been acquitted of criminal offenses, with “administrative violations,” citing a federal source familiar with the matter.
Biden promised the agents will “pay” after photos surfaced showing them swinging the reins of their horse as they tried to stop Haitian migrants from crossing the Rio Grande on September 19, though a photographer who documented the incident said the footage was “misunderstood”. ”
Brandon Judd, president of the Border Patrol agents union, told The Post on Thursday that the proposed discipline “can range from a letter of reprimand to termination,” but added, “I have heard there will be no terminations.”
Abbott also lashed out at Biden over the recent revelation that 50 people on the terror watch list have been caught crossing the southern border since October.
Abbott called the growing number of would-be terrorists entering the country illegally “one of the most reprehensible things the Biden administration is doing,” but said he was even more concerned about “everyone on the terrorist watch list.” who escaped.”
“If you are on the terrorist watch list, you will spend more money on the cartels to try to evade getting caught,” he said.
“So what that means is there’s a high probability that there are a lot of people on the terrorist watch list who have been, who have come to the United States.”
Abbott added: “The President of the United States is failing in his most fundamental duty, and that is to keep our nation safe.”
The latest figures compiled by US Customs and Border Protection showed that 15 people on the terrorist watch list were caught crossing the southern border in May.
That brought to 50 the number of potential terrorists caught during fiscal year 2002, which runs from October 2021 through September, more than the total of 30 caught crossing the southern and northern borders during the previous five fiscal years.
Abbott also said he was briefed by leaders of the Texas National Guard and the state Department of Public Safety ahead of his appearance amid a month-long effort to prepare for the arrival of migrant caravans heading to the border. .
“Some evidence makes it appear that the caravans are breaking up to some degree,” he said.
“Some of it may be due to lack of resources, some of it may be due to weather, some of it may be due to other conditions.”
But Abbott warned that “even if the caravans are breaking up, that doesn’t mean that the people who were part of the caravans aren’t going to try to get to the United States of America.”
“It’s just that they can be getting by one or two, unlike the big caravans.”
Reference-nypost.com