News Article: https://www.cbs19.tv/article/news/local/abbott-declares-immigration-from-mexico-to-be-invasion-invokes-invasion-clause/501-151a2b18-ae99-4ea2-a84e-007fc0976984
Direct link to tweet: https://twitter.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/1592553350129909762
Analysis by Alejandra Caraballo: https://twitter.com/Esqueer_/status/1592582346309795840
Greg Abbott decided he wanted to solve immigration issues by invoking the invasion clause to use the Texas National Guard to shoot and murder immigrants. This is literally the state of Texas declaring a war against immigrants.
This is absolutely legally dubious since invasion as it's commonly understood in the constitution applies to the military forces of a nation state. I'm not even sure how the Federal Government stops this insanity.
It's essentially federal nullification by another name since he says he can now deploy military units on Mexican territory (Rio Grande) and enter into direct agreements with foreign powers. All of these are explicitly barred by the federal constitution. We're in crazytown.
I can't express how radical this is. It's essentially declaring that Texas is a sovereign entity independent of the US that can raise its own military and directly engage with foreign nations. This is absolutely lawless stuff.
It's as close as you can get to outright secession by an American State without actually seceding. Completely uncharted waters here.
I don't think it's the only reason he's doing this, but both him and DeSantis are making a lot of political moves that signal they're planning to run for president.
Alternatively, Abbott may just carve out Texas as his own little fiefdom.