State News
Virginia Attorney General Supports Texas in Border Defense Efforts
Attorney General Jason Miyares of Virginia has joined a coalition of 27 states in a robust stance supporting Texas’s border defense measures. This move, detailed in a letter to the Biden Administration, marks a significant alignment in response to the ongoing border security concerns.
Since the inauguration of President Biden, the southern border has witnessed the crossing of over six million undocumented migrants, a scenario that the coalition describes as an “unchecked invasion” posing serious threats to national security and escalating issues like drug and human trafficking.
The coalition’s stance comes in light of what they perceive as inadequate actions by the Biden Administration to address this crisis. In a striking example cited, Border Patrol agents, reportedly acting under the administration’s directives, interfered with Texas’s border defense measures, including cutting defense wires and facilitating migrant entries.
Texas, in response to what it sees as federal inaction, has taken measures to strengthen its border security. A federal district court noted that the state’s border defense wires significantly curbed illegal crossings by more than two-thirds, indicating the effectiveness of these barriers in not only protecting Texans but also the broader national interest.
Attorney General Miyares, echoing the coalition’s sentiment, emphasized the urgency of the situation. He stated, “The time for action is now. The Biden Administration must either fulfill its duty to enforce the laws that secure our southern border or states like Texas will use their constitutional authority to address this invasion themselves and protect their citizens.”
The coalition demands that the Biden Administration take immediate action to enforce border security laws or allow states like Texas to independently manage their border protection against what they term as an invasion.
Virginia joined the Iowa and Utah-led letter, along with Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wyoming, and the Arizona State Legislature.
This development signals a significant moment in the ongoing discourse on border security and states’ roles in national defense, highlighting the complexities and challenges in managing immigration and security at the southern border of the United States.
