Sens. Cruz, Cornyn Urge President Biden to Grant Gov. Abbott’s Federal Emergency Declaration for Border Communities as Crisis Worsens
‘We strongly support the Governor’s request and urge you to provide any and all emergency measures afforded by the approval of an emergency declaration’
U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today sent a letter to President Biden supporting Governor Abbott’s request for a federal emergency declaration as a result of the crisis on the southern border. Last week, Governor Abbott requested federal assistance to help state authorities deal with the influx of illegal immigrants at the Del Rio International Bridge.
On September 15, a surge of migrants illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border and began to camp at the International Bridge in Del Rio, Texas. Sen. Cruz traveled to Del Rio the next day and heard firsthand how the influx of migrants far exceeds local capabilities and strains community resources. Just two days later, this number reached approximately 16,000 illegal immigrants.
In the letter, the senators wrote:
“It is our understanding that the State of Texas, through the Office of the Governor, has formally requested an emergency declaration as a result of the ongoing crisis at the border, consistent with Title V of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Act. Governor Abbott previously issued a state disaster declaration for a number of Texas counties along the state’s southern border due to the increase in illegal border crossings and the ongoing humanitarian crisis for most of 2021.”
[…]
“We strongly support the Governor’s request and urge you to provide any and all emergency measures afforded by the approval of an emergency declaration. We stand ready and willing to assist in any way possible to ensure prompt evaluation of this request.”
Read the full text of their letter here and below.
September 27, 2021
The Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Mr. President:
It is our understanding that the State of Texas, through the Office of the Governor, has formally requested an emergency declaration as a result of the ongoing crisis at the border, consistent with Title V of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Act. Governor Abbott previously issued a state disaster declaration for a number of Texas counties along the state’s southern border due to the increase in illegal border crossings and the ongoing humanitarian crisis for most of 2021.
Most recently, the situation at the southern border has deteriorated even further with the surge of aliens attempting to enter the United States illegally by crossing the Texas-Mexico border in Val Verde County. The number of aliens at the Del Rio International Bridge increased from approximately 4,000 individuals on Wednesday, September 15, 2021, to over 16,000 aliens on Saturday, September 18, 2021. Overall, CBP officials reported 208,887 encounters with illegal aliens in August, including 103,129 single adults, 18,847 unaccompanied children, and 86,487 individuals in a family unit. All of these numbers have increased over 100 percent since the previous year.
We strongly support the Governor’s request and urge you to provide any and all emergency measures afforded by the approval of an emergency declaration. We stand ready and willing to assist in any way possible to ensure prompt evaluation of this request. Please do not hesitate to contact our offices with any questions.
Sincerely,
/s/
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