Texas launches operations center to oversee efforts by 15 agencies to stem illegal immigration | National news

The command center will monitor these efforts on a larger scale. It was launched on Friday in anticipation of an influx of illegal immigrants that is expected to flood the southern border on Monday. The CDC has designated Monday as the abolition of Title 42, a health authority that allows federal agents to quickly deport illegal immigrants.

However, also on Friday, a federal judge suspended the administration’s plan, retaining section 42.

“Another federal court announced today what we have known all along: President Biden is ignoring federal law with his open border policy,” Abbott said after a ruling Friday. “While today’s court decision to dismiss President Biden’s suspension of deportation from Chapter 42 is a positive occurrence, hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants remain on our southern border, ready to flock to Texas.

“Texas will continue to use all available resources and strategies to prevent this mass illegal migration, including the deployment of the Texas Department of Public Security and the Texas National Guard, coordination with Mexican border governors and activation of the Joint Border Security Center. We remain vigilant in fighting for the abolition of the exceptions in Chapter 42. “

Last month, attorneys general in Arizona, Louisiana and Missouri filed a lawsuit asking a federal court in Louisiana to suspend the administration’s plan; a few days later other statesmen joined the plaintiffs. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has also filed a separate lawsuit in the Texas Federal Court.

Speaking about the court ruling, Paxton said: “Again, the courts are violating Joe Biden’s illegal agenda. Title 42 is one of the last means of protection against the flow of illegals passing through our border. I am glad for our state and our people that it will remain in place. “

The JBSOC, based at the Texas Department of Public Safety headquarters in Austin, will coordinate the efforts of 15 agencies led by the Texas Department of War, DPS and the Texas Department of Emergency Situations. It will provide 24-7 awareness of the situation by overseeing reconnaissance and tactical, naval, air and ground operations, coordinating live broadcasts from Texas National Guard aircraft and DPS, UAVs and detection cameras, and staying in direct contact with law enforcement on the ground. border.

“Texas will not be left out as President Biden endangers our state and our nation by allowing dangerous criminals, illegal weapons and deadly drugs such as fentanyl to enter the United States continuously and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis on our southern border,” he said. Governor Abbott.

Abbott also recently signed agreements with four Mexican governors who promised to work with Texas to combat illegal immigration, becoming the first governor to do so in U.S. history.

Despite historic agreements, more and more people are entering Texas illegally through these Mexican states. Shortly after reaching an agreement, a member of the Texas National Guard drowned while trying to rescue drug smugglers. His death and thousands of illegal immigrants flocking to Texas believe the deals are more symbolic than effective, critics say.

On Friday, Abbott said: “We continue to take unprecedented action to protect the border, building up all available strategies and resources in response to President Biden’s border crisis,” adding that JBSOC “will play an important role in our state’s decisive response to border security strategy.” which the Texans and the Americans deserve. ”

But there are several strategies he has yet to adopt, conservatives say.

Conservatives have repeatedly called Ebat used his constitutional powers to defend Texas’s sovereignty and declare what was happening at the border, invading, closing ports of entry and taking other military measures he had not yet done. They also called on Paxton to issue a legal opinion on the matter, which he did not do. Arizona’s only attorney general, Mark Brnovich, expressed this historical opinion.

Even with the retention of title 42 due to the widespread repeal of immigration law by the Biden administration more than 234,000 people were faced illegal entry into the United States, the largest number in one month in recorded U.S. history.

This is 1376% more than the 17,106 meetings recorded in April 2020 under the Trump administration.

Despite record highs, CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus said when the April figures were released: “The fact is that our borders are not open and we will continue to remove those who enter our country illegally and have no legal basis for stay “.

At a news conference in the Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday, Homeland Security Minister Alejandro Mayorcos said the abolition of title 42 would not “mean the border will open on May 23,” KHOU 11 News Houston reported. reported. “We continue to comply with the laws of this country,” he said. “We continue to remove persons who are not entitled to assistance under the laws of this country.”