Texas Hires a Border Czar Over Biden's Refusal to Secure the Border. Jean-Pierre: 'We're Not About Political Stunts' (February 2, 2023)

Texas was tired of waiting on Washington, so it hired its own border chief. On Feb. 2, 2023, a reporter asked the White House about it. “And then, just one question on immigration. Can we get your reaction to Texas? The Texas governor is appointing a Special Advisor on Border Matters because of what he says is the administration’s refusal to secure the border.” [1]

“Well, look, I’m not going to — look, he’s going to take whatever action he’s going to take. We are — we’re not about political stunts, we’re about dealing with a real issue and taking action,” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre answered, according to the official White House transcript [1].

“The President walked in on day one, put forth a immigration reform, and, you know, is asking Republicans, instead of doing political stunts, to come and help him deal with an issue. But in — in lieu of that, he’s taken actions, and we’re seeing the impact,” she said [1].

The video above shows the exchange at the Feb. 2, 2023, briefing. Quotes are from the official White House transcript, the Texas governor’s office and Fox News [1][2][3][4].

”The Biden Administration’s Refusal to Secure the Border”

Gov. Greg Abbott had made the announcement three days earlier at a border wall construction site in San Benito. “For nearly two years, the State of Texas has taken unprecedented, historic action under Operation Lone Star in response to the Biden Administration’s refusal to secure the border,” Abbott said [2].

“To continue doing what no other state in the history of our country has done to secure the border, I hired Mike Banks as the State of Texas’ first-ever Border Czar,” the governor said. “Mike is the perfect choice to oversee Texas’ fight against the surge of illegal immigration, lethal drugs, and deadly weapons flowing into our state and nation.” [2]

Banks, a former Border Patrol station chief in Weslaco, “has over three decades of federal law enforcement leadership experience, with 23 years in border security operations and administration along the United States-Mexico border,” according to the governor’s office [2].

“Protecting our nation’s border is something I have dedicated the last 23 years of my life to, and I am very passionate about it,” Banks said [2].

The job came with a clear mandate. Banks “will report directly to Governor Abbott and ensure border security strategies are fully executed in Texas in the absence of meaningful federal action,” the release said, and will advise on “the planning of operations ahead of migrant surges, like that of El Paso in December 2022.” [2]

“No Governor has dedicated more time, energy, and effort in terms of public safety, homeland security, and border security than Governor Abbott,” said Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety [2].

Fox News reported that Abbott had launched initiatives “including sending buses of migrants to sanctuary cities like Washington, D.C., and New York City, allocating $4 billion in funding for Texas’ border security efforts and deploying thousands of Texas National Guard soldiers and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers.” [3]

“As You Look at the Parolee Program”

Jean-Pierre said the President’s own plan was working. “That’s what you’ve seen from the President most recently, announcing border measures that’s actually has made a difference, that has had an impact, as you look at the parolee program,” she said [1].

That program let migrants skip the border crossing entirely. Fox News later described the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan parole program as one “which allows 30,000 migrants to fly directly in each month as part of the Biden administration’s ‘expanded lawful pathways.’” [4]

“It’s a Political Stunt”

Jean-Pierre used the same line moments later. “Go ahead, Peter. You’re about to — you’re about to jump out of your seat there. (Laughter.)” she said. “My legs were falling asleep. (Laughter.)” the reporter answered [1].

“Republicans just voted to oust Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee over past antisemitic comments. What is the White House and the President’s response or thought on that?” the reporter asked [1].

“What we believe is Congresswoman O- — Omar is highly respected member of Congress. She has apologized for her comment she made in the past,” Jean-Pierre said. “Look, the way that we see this: It’s a political stunt, much like House Republicans’ unjust — unjust removal of other leading Democrats from key committees in recent weeks, and it is a disservice to the American people.” [1]

By the Numbers

23 years: Banks’ border security experience [2].
$4 billion: Texas’ border security funding, per Fox News [3].
2.4 million+: migrant encounters at the southern border in fiscal 2023 [4].
302,034: encounters in December 2023, a monthly record [4].
30,000: migrants a month allowed to fly in under the parole program [4].

What Happened Next

The records kept falling. “December broke records for migrant encounters at the southern border,” Fox News reported in January 2024. “There were over 2.4 million migrant encounters in FY 23, after a record-setting FY 22. The numbers do not include ‘gotaways’ of which there have been estimates of over 800,000 in FY 23.” [4]

For Biden announcing the parole program in January 2023, see HYGO News’ page on Jan. 5, 2023. For Jean-Pierre asked whether anybody thinks the border is secure, see the page on Jan. 3, 2023.

”The Biden Administration’s Refusal to Secure the Border”

“As You Look at the Parolee Program”

“It’s a Political Stunt”

By the Numbers

What Happened Next

Sources

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