Panhandle Times

Jan 25, 2024

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) and 20 members of the Texas Congressional Delegation have expressed their concern and opposition to the Department of Justice's (DOJ) lawsuit against the State of Texas regarding Senate Bill 4 (SB4). The Texas legislature passed SB4 on November 21, 2023, and Governor Greg Abbott signed it into law on December 18, 2023, making illegal entry into Texas a state crime. The DOJ responded with a lawsuit on January 3, 2024, challenging the constitutionality of SB4.

In a letter addressed to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, the members of the Texas Congressional Delegation wrote, "The record high levels of illegal migration have taken a toll on Texans throughout the state, prompting Governor Abbott to take action where the Biden Administration has not. The Justice Department's argument that SB4 is unconstitutional neglects the fact that the Texas law simply follows current federal immigration law which already makes it a crime to cross into the U.S. illegally."

The Representatives also criticized President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas for their open-border policies, stating, "Texas should not be punished for this Administration's refusal to enforce our current immigration laws. We urge that you reconsider your lawsuit and allow the state of Texas to act as necessary to secure the safety of its residents."

The letter was led by Representative Roger Williams (TX-25) and signed by several other Texas Representatives, including Pat Fallon (TX-04), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), and Keith Self (TX-03), among others.

Furthermore, several states have announced their support for Texas in this matter, including Florida, Virginia, Georgia, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Alabama, Montana, Idaho, Utah, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

In addition to this letter, Congressman Moran recently led the passage of House Resolution (H.Res.) 957, which condemns the Biden Administration's open borders policies and calls for their immediate end. The resolution passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support, with fourteen Democrats joining all Republicans in supporting its passage. This resolution serves as a rebuke of the national security and public safety crisis caused by the open border policies and emphasizes the need for meaningful border security legislation.

Congressman Moran has been actively advocating for border security since his first day in office. He was one of the original co-sponsors of H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, which is considered to be the toughest border security bill passed in decades. Additionally, his first bill filed in Congress, H.R. 672, addressed border security.

The support from Congressman Moran and the Texas Congressional Delegation reflects their commitment to ensuring the safety of Texas residents and their belief that the state should be able to take necessary actions to secure its borders.