Abbott says Texas border issue is solved

CORRECTION: Abbott was interviewed by NewsNation’s Ali Bradley on “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.” A previous version of this story included incorrect information.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said in a Tuesday interview with NewsNation’s Ali Bradley that the immigration and border issue in Texas has been “solved” but still exists nationally.

“We’ve solved the Texas problem, but the United States problem — that requires a new president to make sure that we are actually going to secure our border,” Abbott said on “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.”

Abbott has continually clashed with the Biden administration over the influx of migrants arriving at the Texas-Mexico border. After Vice President Harris took over the Democratic ticket from President Biden, Abbott said he thinks the state needs to “triple” the razor wire barriers at the border.

In the interview, Abbott mentioned some of his most controversial border actions.

Last month, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Abbott could keep the floating barrier in the Rio Grande. Installed more than a year ago, the buoy barrier is meant to dissuade migrants from crossing into the state.

The Biden administration has accused Texas of violating the federal Rivers and Harbor Act and said immigration enforcement is the purview of the federal government.

Abbott said people can expect to see “an increase” of the buoys in the Rio Grande but said he is waiting for the final court decision “before making that investment.”

Abbott said migrants aren’t just crossing into the state from the river but are coming from other U.S. states such as Arizona and New Mexico.

He said his state has begun putting razor wire on its borders with those states, to keep migrants and the cartel out of Texas.

“They’re not able to make money in Texas like they are in New Mexico, Arizona and California, and that’s why, after we put up the resistance that we did, the cartels took their business to those other states,” Abbott said.

Abbott has also bused migrants to Democratic states, including New York, Illinois and Colorado, as part of his larger plan, Operation Lone Star.

He said Tuesday that his goal isn’t to bus anyone, because he wants the state’s efforts to deter people from coming to Texas to work.

Abbott said he expects to see a “higher volume” of migrants heading to Texas in the coming months but said the state stands ready to “start the busing operations again.”

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.

This story was updated at 10:08 a.m. on Aug. 29.