Waco Reporter

Yesterday, Congressman Pete Sessions of Texas joined Congressman Roger Williams and 19 other members of the Texas Congressional delegation in expressing concern to Attorney General Merrick Garland about the ongoing legal challenge between the State of Texas and the Department of Justice (DOJ). The letter also expressed support for Texas Governor Greg Abbott's efforts and urged the DOJ to reconsider its lawsuit against the State of Texas challenging Senate Bill 4 (SB 4).

SB 4, signed into law by Governor Abbott in December 2023, grants Texas the authority to arrest individuals who illegally cross the border from Mexico. The Texas delegation believes that the state should be empowered to take action to protect its citizens in the face of the ongoing immigration crisis.

Congressman Sessions highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating, "The unmitigated illegal migration crisis is detrimental to Texas, and I applaud Governor Abbott's decisive action in the absence of leadership from the Biden Administration." He further criticized the Department of Homeland Security for failing to properly enforce existing immigration laws, which he believes exacerbates the crisis and neglects the needs of Texans and Americans.

Sessions also emphasized that it is unjust to penalize Texas for taking action when the federal government has not. He argued that the DOJ's claim challenging SB 4 as unconstitutional ignores the fact that Texas is aligning with both the Constitution and federal law. According to Sessions, Texas has a duty to protect its citizens and must have the authority to act accordingly.

The letter was signed by a total of 21 members of the Texas Congressional delegation, including Congressman Pat Fallon, Jake Ellzey, Dan Crenshaw, and others. The full text of the letter can be found [here](link to the letter).

The ongoing border security issue has been a significant concern for Texas, particularly in light of the record number of executive actions related to immigration issued by President Biden since taking office. The United States-Mexico border has witnessed over 6.7 million illegal crossings and 1.9 million "gotaways" – individuals who have evaded U.S. Customs and Border Patrol – during this period. Additionally, there have been several months with record-breaking apprehension numbers.

The Texas delegation's support for Governor Abbott's efforts underscores the state's commitment to protecting its borders and its citizens. As the legal challenge between Texas and the DOJ continues, it remains to be seen how this issue will be resolved. However, the collective voice of the Texas Congressional delegation adds weight to the argument that Texas should be allowed to take action to address the border crisis.

In the face of the ongoing immigration challenges, Congressman Sessions and his colleagues are making it clear that they stand firmly with Governor Abbott in his efforts to secure the Texas border.