Governor Greg Abbott (R) addressed the ongoing challenges at the U.S.-Mexico border during an interview on CNBC's Squawk Box, emphasizing the drastic changes in border security over the past few years. Abbott explained that the failure to enforce immigration laws four years ago led to an unprecedented surge in illegal border crossings.
“We’ve never seen a change as much as we saw four years ago, and now this year, with regard to what’s happening at the border,” Abbott said. “What began happening four years ago, of course, was a complete failure to enforce immigration laws. As a result, we saw an all-time record number of people crossing the border illegally—more than 11 million people.”
Gov. Abbott went on to describe the types of people crossing the border, stating that the illegal immigrants crossing is the reason crime across the nation has increased.
“People who are known murderers, rapists, gang members, and cartel members,” said Abbot. “And as a result, the crime across the country skyrocketed.”
Abbott pointed out that the situation shifted dramatically after the reelection of former President Donald Trump, who prioritized border enforcement.
“In the immediate aftermath of Trump’s election and him taking office, the situation changed,” Abbott continued. “It’s gone from 11 million people crossing the border illegally to just a trickle—just a handful of people.”
Governor Abbott’s comments highlight the significant changes in border security over the past few years. As the debate over border security continues, Abbott’s remarks underscore the importance of enforcing immigration laws and the impact of those laws on both crime rates and border crossings.
