Incoherent messes
In my opinion, the United States and Texas border policies are incoherent messes. Both governments seem to be throwing darts at the board and are failing to hit the bullโs-eye.
From time to time, I hear the occasional legislator talk about creating a rational policy that will address both national security and humanitarian goals โ a most reasonable-sounding course.
Gov. Greg Abbottโs defense of inhumane methods seems both un-American and un-Texan. We are smart enough to put our heads together to arrive at policies and programs that achieve the twin goals of appropriately and legally securing the southern border while adhering to the great principle of caring for huddled masses.
For all our flaws, America is still the greatest country in the world. I propose we lead with intelligence, discipline and our historic generosity of spirit.
Arnold Holtberg, Dallas/Preston Hollow
Two wrongs
Re: โFed sue Texas to get rid of buoys โ Abbott defiant as Justice Department says barriers violate law,โ Tuesday news story.
The letter from the Department of Justice states that the floating barrier was put in place without authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and violates the Rivers and Harbors Act, which prohibits obstructions in U.S. waters. So, the barriers are illegal, but the thousands of migrants seeking to enter the country illegally is not an issue? Two wrongs donโt make a right in this situation.
It couldnโt be more obvious that these barriers have been set in place to deter illegal entry into the U.S. Has anyone considered the fact that if migrants were following protocol and coming through authorized ports of entry into the U.S., these river barriers authorized by Gov. Greg Abbott would be a nonissue?
Kay Wrobel, Plano
Is it working?
I call your attention to the following quotes from this story: โAbbott launched Operation Lone Star two years ago, sending National Guard and state troopers to the border. โ And, โThe White House noted Friday afternoon that unlawful border crossings are at a two-year low.โ
Seems to be working!
Mike Mullen, Dallas
These are not soldiers
We are not being invaded by warriors. Gov. Greg Abbott said he is protecting Texas against invasion by installing underwater razor wires attached to barrels to stop migrants at the border. Anyone with common sense can see this is dangerous, inhumane and cruel.
First of all, Texas is not being invaded by any army, and we are not at war with any nation. The people coming to America are victims escaping the dangers and oppression in their homelands. The Bible says in Proverbs 31: 8-9, โSpeak up for those who cannot ... and defend the rights of the poor and needy.โ And in Jeremiah 22:3, โณDo no violence to the foreigner ... and do not shed innocent blood.โ
Please, please never again let a 19-year-old woman or a 4-year-old child be injured or drowned while seeking a better life.
John Bell, Richardson
A cold-hearted approach
Humane, compassionate, good people would never set torture traps to keep animals off their property. Gov. Greg Abbott thinks nothing of doing it to human beings. If this is the best solution he has for the border problem, he is not a problem-solver but instead a cold-hearted leader.
Rachel Deering, Dallas
Optics are bad
Red buoys and concertina wire donโt exactly say โwelcome and bienvenidos.โ So, I have a few questions.
What is Gov. Greg Abbott hoping to achieve? Media tell us this red unwelcome mat spans 1,000 feet. Hereโs the thing โ the Texas-Mexico border stretches 1,254 miles and has 28 international bridges and border crossings. If you cross the border legally, you have many choices.
If you try to cross illegally, often at physical and financial risk, you have a vast number of options along a 1,254-mile border aside from this piddling buoy barrier. Why the uproar?
Sure the optics are bad. But I would wager most Texans are fed up with huge numbers of folks coming through our border illegally. I donโt begrudge anyone seeking refuge in a safer society, but I do have an issue with people seeking to do that illegally.
These red buoys have definitely touched off reactions from the Mexican government and the Department of Justice. Do the buoys scream police state? Just a guess, but could it be Abbottโs way of screaming back: Give us the proper support to deal with unauthorized immigrants, and maybe then buoys can be retired.
Joseph Fuller, Pottsboro
Donโt try to cross there
The buoys and razor wire are meant to deter illegal crossings by redirecting migrants to one of the 28 legal ports of entry spread across our southern border. The buoys and razor wire are all plainly visible from the Mexico side of the Rio Grande and by themselves are not the cause of any injury, nor are they unjust or inhumane. Stay away from them and you wonโt get hurt is my advice.
Many of these migrants have traveled hundreds of miles to reach our southern border. Traveling a few miles more to a safe and legal port of entry is not too much to ask. In fact, it is the law.
John Riggs, Highland Park
What is Abbottโs goal?
What is Gov. Greg Abbott trying to accomplish with his border security efforts? Over two years and millions of Texas dollars and we do not seem to have any improvement with the problem. Maybe we havenโt defined โthe problem.โ
First, he manned up with the Texas National Guard. That didnโt seem to help much.
Then he found the improved vehicle safety rule. Vehicle safety is a real problem on the Texas highways everywhere, but he attacked it at the border. Not sure how many unsafe vehicles he stopped, but he really slowed up the crossing until he got significant complaints about produce going bad because of the delay at the crossing. That brought the inspections to a halt.
Next, he decided to bus the migrants to other states. That didnโt stop or slow down the crossings. It didnโt really make any improvement, but it sure got him a lot of publicity and not very good publicity.
Now heโs in the process of installing a bubble fence, with barbed wire and that is not going well.
I am back to where I started. What is Abbott trying to do?
Goebel Vaughn, Plano
Find a safer place
Well, Gov. Greg Abbott is trying to secure our borders again. How dare he. Razor wire is cutting the people who try to go through it. The water in the river can cause drowning for those trying to swim in it. The buoys are creating a dire inconvenience. What to do?
How about you donโt step off your own banks of the river? There are safe (and legal) places to cross.
Randy Gardner, Anna
Try โem in Austin
Gov. Greg Abbott is deploying large red floating buoys in the Rio Grande for what he says will help keep Texans safe by deterring migrants from crossing into Texas. The governor could do better to keep Texans safe if he secured those buoys around the Capitol grounds in Austin, so our elected officials could not enter the Capitol building to enact any more of the governorโs foolish legislation.
Lindle Grigsby, Farmers Branch
Keep it up, governor
Thank you, Gov. Greg Abbott, for enforcing the laws of the United States by using buoys to prevent unauthorized immigrants from invading the United States. The Department of Justice is a biased political arm of the Democrat Party, in my opinion. President Joe Biden is not enforcing the laws concerning the border, and his open border policy is causing the inhumane events to occur.
Gov. Abbott, stand your ground and keep up the great efforts.
Donald Jones, Wylie
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