Following Kamala Harris being appointed by Biden to oversee the Border Crisis, Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent her a letter asking her to answer questions about how the federal government is responding to the Crisis.
Photo: Texas Governor Greg Abbott
Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore / CC
Published April 1, 2021
By Bethany Blankley [The Center Square Contributor] –
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sent a letter to Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday asking unanswered questions about how the federal government is responding to the border crisis.
President Joe Biden last week tasked Harris with overseeing the border crisis. Harris previously faced criticism after reportedly laughing after a reporter asked a question about whether she would visit the border amidst the crisis.
Abbott urged the administration to interview every unaccompanied illegal immigrant minor to find out if they have been harmed, groomed, or victimized by human traffickers in any way. He’s also demanded that Harris and Biden make clear what their plan is to prosecute human traffickers and stop the surge of illegal border crossings.
“Now that President Biden has named you Border Czar in charge of the administration’s response, I want to express to you the threats and challenges caused by this administration’s open border policies,” he wrote. “These policies embolden and enrich cartels, smugglers, and human traffickers who continue to ramp up their criminal operations. Given your new role as the administration’s Border Czar, I urge you to visit the border to see the crisis for yourself, and I implore the Biden administration to take swift action to secure the border, crack down on human trafficking, and prevent more children from being trafficked and abused.”
On March 6, Abbott initiated Operation Lone Star and directed state law enforcement, including State Troopers, Texas Rangers, the Texas National Guard and other personnel and resources, to perform various tasks to secure the border. On March 17, he expanded the operation to include anti-human trafficking efforts.
There are currently more than 18,000 illegal immigrant unaccompanied minors in federal custody in Texas.
“This has resulted in overcrowding and inhumane conditions in the federally run unaccompanied minor facilities,” Abbott said. “Unfortunately, these numbers are only those known to law enforcement; an unknown number of unaccompanied children successfully cross the border without being apprehended by law enforcement.”
