The official union of U.S. Customs and Border Protection released a statement on Thursday backing the Texas National Guard’s attempts to secure the southern border and slamming the Biden administration for its “catastrophic” border policies.
The National Border Patrol Council (NBPC), which has over 18,000 members, said that the “rank-and-file” Border Patrol agents “appreciate and respect” the measures Texas has taken to repel the record flow of illegal immigrants into the U.S. under Biden.
“TX NG and rank-and-file BP agents work together and respect each other’s jobs. Period,” the NBPC said. “If TX NG members have LAWFUL orders, then they have to carry out those orders.”
Earlier this week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott doubled down on using razor wire to repel migrants from illegally crossing the border after the Supreme Court ruled that Border Patrol agents have the authority to cut through the wire to allow illegal immigrants into the country. On Friday, The Daily Wire found that Texas authorities have not only maintained existing razor wire fortifications but have added razor wire to border barriers, all while continuing to bar Border Patrol from establishing a presence at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass.
The Texas National Guard is actively installing new razor wire to barriers at the southern border, lining the shores in Eagle Pass with razor wire-covered shipping containers@SpencerLndqst reports from the border pic.twitter.com/zkXCBcL7XD
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) January 25, 2024
The Border Patrol union’s statement sought to clarify that rank-and-file Border Patrol agents were in no way preventing Texas National Guard troops from carrying out “their lawful orders” and vice-versa.
“TX NG members realize that rank-and-file BP agents have their orders as well,” the NBPC added. “Lawful orders, no matter how unpopular or distasteful amongst rank-and-file agents, must be followed. Unlawful orders (as determined by competent legal counsel and not what some outhouse lawyer behind a keyboard says) will not be followed.”
The NBPC then ripped the Biden administration for its border policies and the negative consequences they have had on America.
“Rank-and-file BP agents appreciate and respect what TX has been doing to defend their state in the midst of this catastrophe that the Biden Admin has unleashed on America,” the statement continued. “We want to be perfectly clear, there is no fight between rank-and-file BP agents and the TX NG, Gov. Abbott, or TX DPS. It may make flashy headlines, but it simply isn’t true.”
A senior CBP official told Fox News on Friday that there are “no plans” to remove the razor wire being installed by the Texas National Guard after the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“While this issue plays out in the courts, the relationship between Border Patrol, Texas DPS [Department of Public Safety], & TMD [Texas Military Dept.] remains strong,” the official said. “Our focus is and will always be the mission of protecting this country and its people. On the ground, we continue to work alongside these valuable partners in that endeavor.”
“Bottom line: Border Patrol has no plans to remove infrastructure (c-wire) placed by Texas along the border,” the CBP official added. “Our posture remains the same. If we need to access an area for emergency response, we will do so. When that happens, we will coordinate with Texas DPS & TMD.”