Border Security: Still a long way to go
Although illegal crossings have dropped recently, Austin-area precinct chairman realize there’s still a long way to go toward securing the Texas-Mexico border.
A resolution calling for additional measures to effectively repel unprecedented illegal immigration waves and secure the border for the protection of our Texas communities was approved unanimously by the Travis GOP on Jan. 16, 2024. Below is the text of the resolution, which appeals to the Constitution’s provision for the repelling of invasions.
WHEREAS the Preamble of the United States Constitution outlines the chief responsibility of the Federal Government is to “ensure domestic tranquility” and “provide for the common defense”; and Article IV, Section 4 of the United States Constitution provides “The United States shall guarantee to every state “protection against invasion”; and Article IV, Section 7 of the Texas Constitution provides the Governor of Texas legal authority as “Commander-in-Chief of the military forces of the State” with the power to call forth the militia to execute the laws of the State, to suppress insurrections, and repel invasions”; and
WHEREAS, Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Legislature, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are using legal authority vested by the Texas Constitution to secure the border, stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and cartel-trafficked people into Texas, and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal activity between ports of entry; and
WHEREAS, the ongoing border security crisis is creating a national security threat and humanitarian disaster with overwhelming consequences to the lives and liberties of the residents of the State of Texas and the County of Travis; and,
WHEREAS, on July 5th, 2022, the counties of Kinney, Goliad, and Terrell declared an invasion for the first time in Texas history. Since then, 50 counties have also declared an invasion. These counties are calling on the remaining roughly 200 counties to also declare and invasion and repel those who support and go to great lengths to circumvent the laws of Texas and the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law Senate bill 4 on Dec 18th, 2023 which in March of 2024 will make it a criminal offense for illegal entry into Texas from a foreign nation, will authorize all licensed peace officers to stop this invasion by removing illegal aliens from Texas, and will increase penalties for illegal entry and human smuggling. Senate Bill 3, also signed into law on this same date, provides 1.54 billion dollars of funding for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Texas border barrier infrastructure.
THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED, that the Executive Committee of Travis County Republican Party expresses full support for Governor Abbott’s efforts to secure the Texas border, defend Texas sovereignty, and additionally calls on the State legislature to declare an invasion and provide additional legal authorities and support of Operation Lone Star and the three recently enacted Senate bills for the safety and security of the great state of Texas.
By counties declaring an invasion we are expressing support for state executive and legislative authorities to secure the Texas border by all means possible.
Approved unanimously 1/16/24
