OPINION:
By a vote of 5-4, with two conservative justices joining the liberals, the Supreme Court has ruled that federal agents can cut razor wire installed along the Texas-Mexico border while a lawsuit over the wire continues. The Border Patrol union and its agents who have spoken to reporters favor the razor wire installation because it is working in that section of the state in keeping migrants, criminals and fentanyl out, but that apparently doesn’t matter to the court.
While the emergency appeal of a lower court ruling upholding the action by Texas did not require an explanation for their votes, it likely is because the majority felt the Constitution grants power to the federal government over individual states when it comes to border control. The obvious question, which the court did not address: Why is the federal government not enforcing immigration laws that migrants are breaking to enter the country?
Suppose a Mexican army — no, forget an army. Suppose a ragtag bunch of drug dealers invaded Texas, the governor acted to stop them — including installing more razor wire — and the Biden administration did nothing to stop them. Would the court be OK with that? The effect is the same as if an army of any kind were crossing the border.
How many more murders, rapes and drug deaths are to be tolerated before the administration begins to enforce laws passed by Congress and signed by presidents of both parties? If this is not a violation of President Biden’s oath of office, what would qualify?
A statement from White House spokesperson Angelo Fernandez Hernandez is laughable: “Texas’ political stunts, like placing razor wire near the border, simply makes it harder and more dangerous for frontline personnel to do their jobs.”
Except, as anyone can plainly see from watching pictures of tens of thousands of migrants streaming across the border, they are not doing their jobs because the Biden administration won’t let them.
Even Mr. Biden recently stated the obvious when he said, after months of denials by himself and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, that the border is not secure. If his previous statements weren’t lies, we need a new definition of the word.
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in response to the court ruling that the razor wire is an “effective deterrent” to illegal crossings and “I will continue to defend Texas’ constitutional authority to secure the border.”
Local police and Department of Public Safety officers have been arresting migrants on trespassing charges, but ultimately, the migrants will be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is likely to continue releasing them into the country. From there, they will likely head to already crowded cities seeking low-paying jobs, taking playgrounds and other spaces from children and, in the case of New York, depositing human waste in parks, in the streets and in some cases, in cups they leave on the doorsteps of residents.
That this will be and already is a major issue in this year’s presidential race is clear. According to a new Harvard CAPS-Harris poll: “More voters pointed to immigration than to inflation as a top policy concern. The survey found that 35% of respondents listed immigration as their paramount concern among an array of issues, with inflation in a close second, named by 32% of respondents.”
Beware, Democrats. You are on the wrong side of this issue.
• Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book, “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (HumanixBooks).
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