Texas Governor Greg Abbott criticized the Democratic Party’s advocacy for states’ rights in Minnesota, labeling it as hypocritical given his own challenges enforcing border security during the Biden administration.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has called out what he describes as the “hypocrisy” of the Democratic Party in advocating for states’ rights in Minnesota, especially in light of his own struggles to enforce border security during the Biden administration.
In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Abbott stated, “Hypocrisy is the word choice that really applies to them, because, suddenly, these Minnesota states want to insist on states’ rights.” His comments come after he faced significant criticism and legal challenges for his border enforcement efforts.
In 2021, Abbott initiated “Operation Lone Star,” which involved deploying state troopers and the Texas National Guard to the border, as well as funding barrier construction to deter illegal crossings. This initiative led to a lawsuit from the Biden administration the same year.
Abbott emphasized that Texas’ situation is fundamentally different from that of Minnesota and other sanctuary states. He explained, “Texas insisted on states’ rights, but what we were doing in Texas during the Biden administration was simply trying to enforce the federal immigration laws that Joe Biden was refusing to enforce.”
He characterized the situation in Minnesota as “total chaos, total anarchy,” arguing that the state is not enforcing the law but rather interfering with its enforcement.
“My job as governor was to make sure we used every tool to secure the border, and it worked,” Abbott said. He criticized the Biden administration for creating a lack of safety, citing the millions of individuals who have crossed the border illegally and the associated crime rates. “Look at the criminals, the rapists, and murderers who came into Houston, Texas, that Joe Biden allowed in,” he added.
Abbott claimed that his policies resulted in an over 85 percent decrease in illegal immigration in Texas, along with a more than 40 percent reduction in fentanyl-related deaths.
As he campaigns for re-election, Abbott is focusing on making Texas an attractive destination for individuals seeking economic opportunity and personal freedom. A key component of his platform is a proposal to significantly reduce property taxes in Texas during the upcoming legislative session.
His five-step plan includes limiting local government spending growth to either population growth or inflation, requiring two-thirds voter approval for local property tax increases, allowing voters to initiate rollback elections with a 15 percent petition threshold, capping homestead appraisal growth at 3 percent, and expanding that cap to all properties. Additionally, he aims to require property appraisals only once every five years and pursue a constitutional amendment to eliminate school district property taxes for homeowners.
Despite predictions from some Democrats, including U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Jasmine Crockett, that Texas is on the verge of turning blue, Abbott expressed confidence in the Republican Party’s position ahead of the November elections. He stated, “As long as Republicans remain engaged, as long as we’re able to get out our vote, we’re going to win these elections and win them with ease.”
Abbott highlighted the contrast between Republican and Democratic policies, asserting that Democrats oppose property tax cuts and support defunding the police, while Republicans advocate for law enforcement and border security. “Democrats stood for these crazy open border policies, where Republicans fight to close the border, enforce immigration laws, and don’t let people in illegally,” he said.
Looking ahead, Abbott plans to actively campaign in areas traditionally considered Democratic strongholds, such as Harris County, home to Houston. “I take every election seriously. I take nothing for granted,” he remarked, emphasizing the importance of engaging voters.
He recounted recent successes in combating crime in Texas, particularly in Houston, where he claimed to have passed laws that address issues related to low bonds for violent offenders. “We fought a battle and won one here in Houston, Texas, where we had socialist judges letting murderers out of jail on low bond, only to go back out and murder somebody else,” he noted.
Abbott concluded by asserting that Texas remains a beacon of opportunity, attracting individuals from states with policies he described as chaotic and detrimental. “Texas is the state that’s most on fire in the entire United States of America,” he said. “What our goal is to make sure we continue to pass policies that keep Texas attractive.”
He reiterated his commitment to uphold the rule of law, stating, “It’s a constant battle against the socialists, whether they’re in Minneapolis or Houston, Texas, or Austin, Texas, but righteousness and the rule of law will always prevail,” according to Fox News.