Gov. Greg Abbott says the federal government has “broken the compact between the United States and the States” with its immigration policies.

A clash between Texas and the Biden administration over who controls the Texas-Mexico border continues to escalate this week as federal officials once again demanded the state give Border Patrol agents access to a park that is a popular corridor for migrants to enter the United States illegally.

This comes in response to a recent Supreme Court decision, where the court allowed federal officials to dismantle a wire barrier along the border, prompting a legal battle initiated by Texas. Texas argued that this action, aimed at aiding migrants, infringes on state sovereignty and damages Texas security measures.

In response to this decision, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott released a letter arguing that Texas has a right to control the border and that it supersedes federal government control. Abbott’s accusation that the federal government has breached the Constitution by having “broken the compact between the United States and the States” is almost identical to South Carolina’s 1860 declaration of secession.

Furthermore, Abbott’s letter espouses the fringe theory of constitutional law known as “compact theory,” popularized by Confederate states during the Civil War era and supported by Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

  • @eek2121@lemmy.world
    16•5 months ago

    You really do not, here is why in no particular order:

    • When Texas does, other red states will follow.
    • Once that happens, forget human rights for anyone other than white men. Arrests/executions of trans folks, for example, will be a thing.
    • Blue folks in the red area will be trapped and unable to get back home.
    • War will break out, millions if lives will be lost.
    • Don’t count on the military. Much of it id in red states and many members of the military are republicans.

    Less likely, but far worse scenario could happen in addition to the above: Russia, Iran, North Korea, China, and other countries take advantage and attack parts of europe and possibly parts of the US. The US is a large part of NATO, so NATO will struggle to respond to the combined threat.

    I understand wanting to see it happen, but much of what I said is very likely to play out if TX follows through.

    You don’t need to believe me, but just think it through.

    • The Assman
      13•5 months ago

      Gotta disagree with the last two bullets. I think it’s pretty unlikely any active duty military switches sides. So you’re left with the largest military arsenal on the planet and one of the largest standing armies vs the Texas rangers, which likely would just haul ass to the US. I mean why wouldn’t they? They don’t have infinite weapons and personnel on their side.

      They’d have it over in an afternoon if there was an armed conflict at all.

    • @tsonfeir@lemm.ee
      -15•5 months ago

      I don’t think it’s right to stop a group of people, who vote for a thing in their limited area, from doing what they think is right. Brexit was a vote. They wanted it. They got it.

        • @tsonfeir@lemm.ee
          -16•5 months ago

          What they do in their state is their business 🤷‍♂️ the majority put these people in power and they need to lie in that bed.

          Of course, my deepest sympathies for those who are victims of circumstance. May their journey north be an easy one.

          • drewofdoomEnglish
            6•5 months ago

            Except the majority didn’t put those people in power when we’re talking about Texas. Texas is not majority Republican. Most of the Democrats are concentrated in the urban areas - Dallas/FW, Houston, Austin, etc. Nevertheless, there’s a nearly 50/50 split in population affiliation. However, the Republicans control the state through a combination of voter suppression and gerrymandering. And, of course, the independent wildcards.

            Point is, it’s not the majority who are keeping the state red. It’s the majority of the people who are allowed to vote when calculated in such a way as to make Republican votes count more than Democratic votes. The state is rigged to keep Republican control regardless of the actual majority.

            • @tsonfeir@lemm.ee
              -5•5 months ago

              By majority I mean the voting majority which also includes the gerrymandering.

              I know how unfair fair elections can be. I think we need a good example of how democracy can fail, and not many Americans can see past their own borders.