Rep. Joaquin Castro Urges Biden to Take Control of Texas National Guard Amid Border Dispute

In a heated escalation of the ongoing feud between Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the Biden administration over border security, Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) has called upon President Biden to assert federal control over the Texas National Guard. This call comes as Texas defies a recent Supreme Court ruling allowing U.S. Border Patrol officers to dismantle razor wire barriers erected by state authorities.

Castro's plea, voiced via Twitter on Tuesday, accuses Governor Abbott of using the Texas National Guard to obstruct and sow chaos at the border. The congressman contends that if Abbott continues to defy the Supreme Court's decision, President Biden must intervene to establish federal authority over the state's National Guard.

The clash between Abbott and the Biden administration has been ongoing for months, with Abbott consistently criticizing Biden's border policies as insufficient while the administration pushes back on Texas' authority to erect border barriers. Abbott, in a statement on Wednesday, doubled down on his stance, declaring Texas's right to defend itself in the face of what he deems an invasion.

The recent 5-4 Supreme Court ruling in favor of Border Patrol's authority to remove razor wire barriers has done little to quell the tension. Despite the ruling, Abbott reaffirmed Texas's commitment to installing razor wire along the border, citing its effectiveness in deterring illegal crossings encouraged by what he characterizes as Biden's lax immigration policies.

Abbott's defiance of the court ruling has drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) has previously urged Texas to disregard the Supreme Court decision, while Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) condemned Abbott's actions as "malicious" and "unconstitutional," calling for a more humane approach to immigration reform.

The dispute escalated earlier this month when the Texas National Guard and the Texas Department of Public Safety installed fences and razor wire in a riverside park in Eagle Pass, Texas. This move, coupled with allegations that Texas law enforcement hindered Border Patrol officers from aiding migrants, has fueled further animosity between state and federal authorities.

As tensions continue to mount along the Texas border, the fate of the Texas National Guard remains uncertain. With Rep. Castro's call for federal intervention and Governor Abbott's steadfast refusal to back down, the stage is set for a potentially protracted and contentious battle over border control and states' rights.