These 10 Governors Discuss Illegal Immigration | Eagle Pass, Texas

Paresh Jadhav

Governor

As part of his efforts to combat illegal immigration, Texas Governor Greg Abbott seized this 2.5-mile stretch of land in Eagle Pass and denied Border Patrol access before installing concertina wire around it.

At Eagle Pass, he was joined by fellow Republican governors such as Arkansas’ Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, Nebraska Gov Jim Pillen, South Dakota Gov Kristi Noem and Tennessee Gov Bill Lee.

1. Texas Governor Greg Abbott

Governor Abbott engaged in an animated conversation with conservative talk host Dana Loesch to defend his decision to seize control of Eagle Pass at its border with Mexico. He cited deaths of three drowned individuals, as well as his state’s recent passage of SB 4 which criminalises illegal border crossing.

He also faulted the Biden administration for failing to enforce immigration laws.

2. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson

Hutchinson earned a solid reputation during the terms limits era for being an effective leader. His plans to cut taxes and maintain services by restructuring bureaucracy was implemented with great success.

He favors relaxing restrictions on pipelines and drilling operations, expanding nuclear energy production and withdrawing from the Paris Climate Change Agreement. Furthermore, he supports religious freedom legislation while opposing abortion rights.

3. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards

John Bel Edwards hails from Amite, Louisiana and spent eight years as a United States Army Airborne Ranger before becoming governor of Louisiana.

Eagle Pass has become the epicenter of a dispute between Texas and federal officials over immigration enforcement. The Department of Homeland Security issued a letter asking Texas to allow agents access to a 2.5-mile area within Eagle Pass, including Shelby Park.

4. Iowa Governor Kim Davis

Eagle Pass’ influx of migrants has placed strain on local resources and sparked national political debate, prompting Governor Abbott to sign into law giving Texas police broad authority to arrest migrants on state criminal charges for entering illegally into the country. Civil rights organizations have filed suit to challenge this measure.

State officials have deployed concertina wire around Shelby Park in Eagle Pass to bar federal agents from entering. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is reviewing this matter.

5. Missouri Governor Eric Greitens

Greitens is a two-time Oxford Blue and an outstanding boxer, having studied philosophy, ethics and public policy at Duke University.

He and 14 other Republican governors have assembled in Eagle Pass to press for increased border security, alleging that the Biden administration has broken its pledge to defend Texas against foreign invasion. Over this weekend, they will be joined by supporters.

6. Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant

Maverick County city of Eagle Pass in Maverick County, Texas, is bracing itself for an expected influx of migrants over this weekend at Shelby Park – an oasis along the Rio Grande with a boat ramp – where migrants are expected to assemble.

The US Department of Homeland Security has informed Texas state officials it will sue unless they reopen disputed sections of Shelby Park to Border Patrol agents.

7. Missouri Governor Eric Greitens

Greitens has caused alarm among national Republicans, as his candidacy threatens the party’s hold in Missouri despite having historically supported them. Current polling indicates he stands third behind Schmitt and Hartzler; his campaign disputes this assessment of his numbers.

Federal officials in Eagle Pass allege that state authorities are restricting their ability to respond to the migrant crisis. As evidence, they point out Shelby Park as an area in which state authorities have installed fencing to exclude Border Patrol agents.

Governor

8. Montana Governor Steve Bullock

Eagle Pass, Texas has recently become overwhelmed with migrants arriving via Texas’ illegal immigration crackdowns, leading them to block Border Patrol agents from accessing certain parts of town putting both migrants and local residents’ safety at risk. Gaige Davila reports from Eagle Pass.

Governor Steve Bullock served Montana from 2013-20 as its 24th governor. Working closely with a Republican-majority legislature, he worked to improve access to health care and protect public lands while working to end dark money in state politics and invest in education.

9. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham

She has championed local tribes, women’s rights and environmental sustainability while fighting back against reactionary federal policies. During her three terms in New Mexico’s 1st District House seat she made these issues her priority.

A top Border Patrol official informed the Supreme Court of Texas’ actions that prevented federal agents from accessing a 2.5-mile stretch of the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass and Shelby Park for patrol and processing migrants. As a result, this hindered their abilities.

10. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo

Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat born and educated in Queens and who graduated from Fordham University. Following that he worked at the Department of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton.

After his resignation as governor in 2021, he briefly considered running again but ultimately decided against it due to not wanting his daughters to endure another campaign. Now he spends more time with family and working on car restoration projects.


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