- Video showed migrants pushing past razor wire and National Guard troops
- White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about it on Friday
- She said it was a matter for the Texas governor who deployed the defense
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The White House said Friday it was clear who was to blame for shocking scenes at the Texas border, when dozens of migrants broke through razor wire and knocked over guards in the process: Gov. Greg Abbott.
‘He’s the one who built the razor wire. It is him, says press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
“The National Guard … that’s him.”
An increase in the number of people crossing the border from Mexico has put the White House under intense pressure.
On Thursday, video from the border city of El Paso showed more than 100 migrants forcing their way through the defenses and pushing past Texas National Guard troops.
A migrant watches the aftermath of the moment about 100 men pushed through razor wire laid by the Texas National Guard Thursday outside El Paso
That sparked another round of attacks on the Biden administration for its failure to tackle the issue.
Not so fast, Jean-Pierre said when asked about the video at her daily briefing.
It was a question of Abbott, who had ordered the breached fortifications, and of other Republicans who, at the behest of Donald Trump, had blocked a security bill that would have sent more money to the border and continued to politicize the issue, she said.
“And you have a governor of Texas, Governor Abbott, who continues to make this, unfortunately, a dangerous situation, a chaotic situation,” he said.
“Let’s not forget who they pass. (They’re) passing the razor wire, they’re passing the Texas National Guard that the Republican governor put on the border.’
The video, captured by the New York Post, shows Texas’ razor-wire defenses built beyond the formal border barriers.
By that time, arrivals are already on U.S. soil but unable to get close enough to Border Patrol officers to claim asylum.
A group of hooded and gloved men pulled down fences and then plunged through the rings of razor wire as five guards tried to fill the gap.
Armed with rifles, the guards initially stood their ground and pushed back on the crowd. But they were no match for the hundred or so men, who quickly forced their way through and overthrew the troops in the process.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday it was clear who was to blame for shocking scenes at the Texas border, when dozens of migrants broke through razor wire and knocked over guards in the process: Texas’ governor.
Migrants were escorted back outside the barrier after the incident on Thursday
Several groups tried to tear down the razor wire a day later at the border
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is hailing sheriffs from counties across the state as part of a push to introduce new powers to tackle migrants crossing from Mexico
They then make their way to the border post to seek asylum.
Reports later suggested that some were pushed back to Mexico and some were processed.
Border Patrol agent Orlando Marrero told the local Fox news station: ‘The migrants that we encountered here today at Gate 36 will be taken to a processing center.’
The Border Patrol has seen record levels of encounters at the border over the past three years — over two million in each fiscal year.
Texas has become the focal point of Republican efforts to intervene and confront the Biden administration.
The state has tried to introduce a law that would have local enforcement agencies like sheriffs arrest and deport people who enter illegally. Such powers are normally reserved for the federal government.
Texas’ efforts have been put on hold after a flurry of legal activity. The Supreme Court allowed Senate Bill 4 to take effect Tuesday while sending it back to an appeals court for review.
House later the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals put the law on hold again.
Abbott has repeatedly said his state faces pressing issues that require action.