13 Red State Governors Join TX Gov. Abbott For Press Conference In Eagle Pass

Governors from 13 states joined Texas Governor Greg Abbott for a press conference at Shelby Park, which has become the site of a weeks-long showdown between the Biden Administration and Texas National Guard personnel over border security enforcement.

Texas has received support from governors of 25 states after the Supreme Court ruled last month that federal agents can cut concertina wire barriers on state land near Eagle Pass. Abbott has refused to submit to Biden Administration demands and has instead ordered state law enforcement and national guard personnel to continue the construction of land and water-based barriers.

On Sunday, Abbott was joined by governors of 13 states for a tour of the Shelby Park area. Those joining Abbott on Sunday included Brian Kemp (Georgia), Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Arkansas), Jeff Landry (Louisiana), Mike Parson (Missouri), Greg Gianforte (Montana), Jim Pillen (Nebraska), Chris Sununu (New Hampshire), Tate Reeves (Mississippi), Brad Little (Idaho), Eric Holcomb (Indiana), Kim Reynolds (Iowa), Kristi Noem (South Dakota), Bill Lee (Tennessee) and Spencer Cox (Utah).

“America’s Governors have banded together to make one thing clear: Texas has the right to protect & defend our border,” Abbott wrote in an X post accompanied by photos of the meeting. “We will NOT tolerate this invasion the Biden Admin’s open border policies enabled. President Biden — it is your turn now to enforce the law & secure the border.”

“Arkansas sent National Guard troops here last year and I can commit today that we will continue to do that over the course of this year as much as we can and as much as is needed until the federal government and Joe Biden step up and do their jobs,” said Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

Abbott’s efforts have also been met with support from the U.S. Border Patrol Union, which posted a lengthy letter endorsing Operation Lonestar last week. “TX NG and rank-and-file BP agents work together and respect each other’s jobs. Period. If TX NG members have LAWFUL orders, then they have to carry out those orders,” the Union wrote in an X post.

The union went on to stress that rank-and-file agents have long-running relationships with the Texas National Guard and understand their commitment to Border Security. “Rank-and-file BP agents appreciate and respect what TX has been doing to defend their state in the midst of this catastrophe that the Biden Admin has unleashed on America,” the statement reads.

While Texas has not received a court order to remove barriers along heavily trafficked border areas, the Biden Administration did order Texas personnel to allow Border Patrol agents to access the area and relinquish control over the Shelby Park area within 24 hours late last month.

Texas still maintains control of the park.