Largest Texas Newspaper Rebukes Greg Abbott's 'Defiance' of Supreme Court

Texas' largest newspaper, the Houston Chronicle, criticized Governor Greg Abbott on Sunday in an opinion article for his "defiance" of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to temporarily remove the use of razor wire at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Tension between federal and state units in Texas remains after President Joe Biden's administration secured a significant win over Abbott in late January after the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to allow the temporary removal of razor wire along the southern border while litigation over the issue proceeds. The Court's decision has sparked anger among Republicans who support the measures taken by Abbott and his administration to fight illegal immigration in the state. Tensions over the measures escalated as the federal government raised environmental and humanitarian concerns about the deterrent.

The Texas governor, an outspoken critic of Biden over immigration issues, has vowed that the fight "is not over" and called the razor wire "an effective deterrent" in a post on X, formerly Twitter, despite the legal blow. He also issued a statement declaring Texas' "right to self-defense."

In an opinion piece published Sunday, the Houston Chronicle's editorial board raised concerns over Abbott's "defiance" as they compare it to past events of U.S. history.

"For Americans of a certain age, Abbott's defiance has a familiar ring. It brings to mind Alabama's 'segregation forever' governor, George Wallace, who in 1963 barred African-American students Vivian Malone and James Hood from registering at the University of Alabama," the opinion piece read.

Newsweek has reached out to Abbott's office via email for comment.

The Chronicle compared Abbott to former Alabama Governor George Wallace, a segregationist who was in office during the civil rights movement, who ordered the police to close Alabama's public schools in Huntsville, Mobile, Tuskegee and Birmingham in 1963, defying federal orders to integrate the state's schools. He also personally blocked two Black students from registering at the University of Alabama.

Abbott, like many of his fellow Republican lawmakers, say the uptick in migrants is a direct result of Biden's border policies, which they say incentivize illegal immigration. While other experts say other factors including political and financial instability in some Central American countries drive migration to the U.S.

There were more than 2.4 million encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border during the 2023 fiscal year, up from roughly 1.7 million in 2021, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. Encounter data includes USBP Title 8 Apprehensions, Office of Field Operations (OFO) Title 8 Inadmissibles and Title 42 Expulsions.

Biden signaled that he is open to "massive changes" on border policy, asking Congress to embrace a bipartisan Senate deal that would pair border enforcement measures with aid to Ukraine to help in its ongoing war with Russia.

However, the GOP-led House does not appear to agree with the bipartisan bill proposed as conservative hardliners argue the bill would not go far enough to end illegal immigration into the U.S. In addition, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, has previously said the Senate deal would be "dead on arrival in the House."

The Chronicle also took aim at Johnson on Sunday and wrote in its opinion article, "The deceptively mild-mannered Louisiana Republican, anticipating a triumphant Trump restoration in November, listens to his master's voice. And obeys."

The comments follow claims Johnson is killing the border deal to allegedly help former President Donald Trump win reelection in November.

However, Johnson rejected the claim last week while talking to reporters on Capitol Hill.

"We have a responsibility here to do our duty. Our duty is to do right by the American people, to protect the American people. First, the most important job for the federal government is to protect its citizens, we are not doing that under President Biden," Johnson said.

Newsweek has also reached out to Johnson's office via email for comment.