Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says Texas is "determined" to secure the border
The State of Texas took a number of steps this week to help the Trump administration secure the southern border.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, R-Texas, told CBS News Texas that the state is focused on tracking down violent criminals who are here illegally. He said the crackdown at the border is all about public safety.
"Whatever it takes day to day, week to week, month-to-month basis," Patrick said. "We're determined to secure the border with President Trump. We're determined to stop terrorists from coming into this country and apprehend those on the terrorist watch list that the Biden administration didn't do."
This week, Gov. Greg Abbott deployed an additional 400 Texas National Guard troops to the border in the Rio Grande Valley to coordinate with the Trump administration's efforts to prevent illegal immigration. Abbott also issued executive orders including directing state agencies to deploy additional border barriers.
In an interview with CBS News Texas, Congressman Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth criticized President Trump's actions.
"He's trying to play a game and scare people," Veasey said. "So, what I'm urging people to do is know your rights. But then asking the President instead of playing these stupid, ignorant games, bring Democrats and Republicans together and let's come up with a real solution for this and not this made-for-tv crap."
In Dallas and Fort Worth last weekend, dozens of people protested the President's actions. When asked what he would say to the protesters, Patrick said he had nothing to say to them.
"Were they out there having a rally for Laken Riley who was killed or Jocelyn Nungary, a 12-year-old girl tortured under a bridge and raped for two hours, and thrown into the river by illegal immigrants," Patrick said. "Where were they then? Look, if a country doesn't have a border, you don't have a country."
The state Legislature has proposed spending an additional $6.5 billion on border security during the next two-year period, ending in August 2027.
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