Abbott says he's 'heard nothing' from White House on border concerns

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Sunday claimed he "heard nothing" from the White House after sending a series of letters outlining steps to eliminate the border crisis.

Asked by "Fox News Sunday" host Shannon Bream if he is talking with the Biden administration or White House about the situation at the border, Abbott said, "I provided eight letters to the Biden administration, which includes the president and to [Homeland Security Secretary] Mayorkas."

"And I personally handed a letter to President Biden and to Secretary Mayorkas when they showed up in El Paso, Texas. [I] outlined five things that they could do that would eliminate the crisis a the border," Abbott continued. "Shannon, in response to all eight of those letters, I've heard absolutely nothing from the Biden administration."

The White House and Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to the White House's request for comment.

Abbott's comments are the latest of his ongoing calls to the Biden administration to take action on the migrant influx at the U.S. southern border.

The Texas governor has repeatedly claimed the White House does not enforce its existing laws on illegal immigration and began taking his own action nearly two years ago in protest. This has included sending buses and flights of migrants to Democratic-led cities, authorizing more funding for border wall construction and, most recently, signing a new immigration and border security law for the Lone Star State.

The law, called Senate Bill 4 or S.B. 4, was enacted last month and has been scheduled to take effect March 5. The bill would allow any Texas law enforcement officer to arrest those suspected of illegally entering the country. Upon arrest, migrants would either have to agree to a judge’s order to leave the U.S. or face misdemeanor charges of illegal entry. 

The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Texas last week, asking a federal judge to rule that the new law violates the U.S. Constitution and to stop the state from enforcing the law.

The federal government pointed to a 2012 Supreme Court ruling — Arizona v. United States — when the country’s highest court decided federal immigration laws often trump state law even if there isn’t a direct conflict.

The federal government is primarily in charge of regulating immigration and controlling international borders. However, Abbott, along with some other state leaders, argue the Biden administration isn't taking enough action at the border.

On Sunday, Abbott argued the preemption rule does not apply due to the federal government "refusing to enforce the laws passed by Congress." He did not specify which laws he was referring to.

Abbott has come under scrutiny by some other leaders of so-called sanctuary cities for sending migrants to their area, including New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D), who filed a suit last week against over a dozen Texas charter companies that bussed the migrants to the Big Apple.

Abbott argued Adams needs to be suing the Biden administration instead of the bus companies.

"But if the mayor really is trying to cut down on the number of illegal immigrants coming into New York, he needs to be suing Joe Biden, not these bus companies because it's Joe Biden and Joe Biden's policies," Abbott told Bream.