Omar Calls Court Packing “Common Sense”; Abbott Warns of “One Houston Per Year” at Border; OPR Finds No Evidence of Whipping

On 7/11/2022, Rep. Ilhan Omar called court packing “common-sense reform” citing a “stolen seat” and “a justice implicated in a coup attempt.” Governor Abbott warned that after the Supreme Court struck down Remain in Mexico, Biden’s own DHS predicted 18,000 daily illegal crossings — over 6 million per year, equivalent to “one Houston every year.” The Office of Professional Responsibility found “no evidence” that Border Patrol agents whipped migrants in Del Rio — despite Biden and Harris promising punishment. KJP called Abbott’s border enforcement “causing chaos.”

Omar: Court Packing Is “Common Sense”

Omar framed expanding the Supreme Court as overdue. “Congress can change the number of justices at any time and has done so seven times throughout our history,” Omar said. “Since 1869, the last time the court was expanded, the U.S. population has grown by over 800%. Yet the court has stayed stagnant at nine justices.”

“In the face of the stolen seat, a justice implicated in a coup attempt, and a dangerous crisis of legitimacy, this common-sense reform should absolutely be at the table,” Omar said — characterizing adding justices to override unfavorable rulings as merely practical governance.

Abbott: “One Houston Every Year”

Abbott laid out the math after the Supreme Court struck down the Remain in Mexico policy. “The Biden administration predicted that after the elimination of these policies, we should have about 18,000 people coming across the border illegally per day,” Abbott said. “Extrapolate that for an annual basis, and you’re going to have more than 6 million people coming across the border a year.”

“To put this in context, the largest city in the state of Texas is Houston. We will have about one Houston coming across the border in Texas every year. It took more than 100 years to create Houston. Now we will be adding a Houston every year,” Abbott said. “This is outrageous, and there’s a reason why Americans are so angry.”

No Whipping — OPR Report

The Office of Professional Responsibility released its findings on the Del Rio incident where Border Patrol agents on horseback were accused of whipping Haitian migrants. The conclusion directly contradicted Biden and Harris.

“OPR investigators determined that the agents involved were not carrying whips,” the report stated. “Despite initial appearances, after careful review and analysis of videos, photos, and eyewitness accounts — including an interview with the photographer on the scene — OPR found no evidence that Border Patrol agents struck any person with their reins, intentionally or otherwise.”

A reporter asked the obvious question: “Given the very strong statements that the president and the vice president made at the time — including the president’s promise that the agents would be punished — how is it possible for OPR to conduct an independent investigation? Was there any pressure from these statements?”

The OPR official compared it to police controversies. “I’ve been a police chief over the last 20-some years. During that time I’ve dealt with many high-profile controversies involving my officers that didn’t look great initially. It was inevitable that there was going to be a reaction from the community, media, elected officials. Not at all surprising,” the official said.

500,000 “Gotaways”

Abbott revealed that at least 500,000 “gotaways” — people seen on surveillance cameras entering the country but never apprehended — had been recorded. “These are the gotaways that we know of, that were seen on surveillance camera getting into the country,” Abbott said.

He detailed Texas’s unprecedented response. “No state in the history of the United States has ever done this,” Abbott said, listing the state’s actions: turning back tens of thousands of migrants, building its own border wall, and laying “mile after mile of razor wire.”

“It is time now for Congress to step up under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. Congress has the direct authority to call for an invasion and do something about securing our border,” Abbott said.

KJP: Abbott “Causing Chaos”

When asked about Abbott’s executive order directing the National Guard to apprehend undocumented immigrants, KJP attacked the governor. “Immigration enforcement is a federal authority, and states should not be meddling in it — especially Governor Abbott, who has a track record of causing chaos and confusion at the border,” KJP said.

Key Takeaways

Omar called court packing “common-sense reform,” citing a “stolen seat” and “a justice implicated in a coup attempt.”
Abbott warned Biden’s own DHS projected 18,000 daily crossings without Remain in Mexico — over 6 million per year, “one Houston every year.”
OPR found “no evidence” agents whipped migrants in Del Rio, contradicting Biden’s promise that agents “would be punished.”
At least 500,000 “gotaways” were recorded on surveillance entering the country without being apprehended.
KJP accused Abbott of “causing chaos” at the border while the administration opposed every enforcement tool Texas deployed.

Transcript Highlights

The following is transcribed from the video audio (unverified — AI-generated from audio).

In the face of a stolen seat, a justice implicated in a coup attempt, this common-sense reform should be at the table.
We will have one Houston coming across the border every year. It took 100 years to create Houston.
OPR found no evidence that Border Patrol agents struck any person with their reins, intentionally or otherwise.
At least 500,000 gotaways seen on surveillance camera getting into the country.
No state in the history of the United States has ever done this. It’s time for Congress to step up.
Immigration enforcement is federal authority. Governor Abbott has a track record of causing chaos.

Full transcript: 867 words transcribed via Whisper AI.