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A RESOLUTION urging Governor Andy Beshear to express support for Governor 1
Greg Abbott and the State of Texas in their efforts to secure the border. 2
WHEREAS, in fiscal year 2023, United States Customs and Border Protection 3
reported more than 3.2 million migrant encounters nationwide, of which over 2.4 million 4
were recorded at the southern border. The total number of apprehensions were almost 5
equal to the number of births registered in the United States in 2022, at over 3.6 million; 6
and 7
WHEREAS, by July 2023, the United States Customs and Border Protection 8
reported that it experienced more than seven million encounters with migrants crossing 9
the border since President Biden took office, the approximate population of 10
Massachusetts, the 16th most populous state; and 11
WHEREAS, the Border Patrol processed more migrants who entered the United 12
States illegally in December 2023 than in any other month in the agency's history; and 13
WHEREAS, the Executive Branch of the United States has a constitutional duty to 14
enforce federal laws protecting the states, including the immigration laws that are 15
currently in place; and 16
WHEREAS, the Biden Administration has failed to enforce those laws and has 17
even violated them, resulting in an unprecedented influx of illegal immigrants entering 18
the United States; and 19
WHEREAS, a growing number of states are expressing support for the state of 20
Texas in protecting the United States border from illegal entry. On January 25, 2024, 25 21
governors recently released the following statement: 22
"President Biden and his Administration have left Americans and our country 23
completely vulnerable to unprecedented illegal immigration pouring across the Southern 24
border. Instead of upholding the rule of law and securing the border, the Biden 25
Administration has attacked and sued Texas for stepping up to protect American citizens 26
from historic levels of illegal immigrants, deadly drugs like fentanyl, and terrorists 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1855
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entering our country. 1
We stand in solidarity with our fellow Governor, Greg Abbott, and the State 2
of Texas in utilizing every tool and strategy, including razor wire fences, to secure the 3
border. We do it in part because the Biden Administration is refusing to enforce 4
immigration laws already on the books and is illegally allowing mass parole across 5
America of migrants who entered our country illegally. 6
The authors of the U.S. Constitution made clear that in times like this, states 7
have a right of self-defense, under Article 4, Section 4 and Article 1, Section 10, Clause 3 8
of the U.S. Constitution. Because the Biden Administration has abdicated its 9
constitutional compact duties to the states, Texas has every legal justification to protect 10
the sovereignty of our states and our nation."; and 11
WHEREAS, illegal immigration affects all Americans, including the people of the 12
Commonwealth of Kentucky; and 13
WHEREAS, the Kentucky General Assembly stands with the State of Texas, the 14
Texas National Guard, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and all personnel acting 15
pursuant to their lawful authority to secure our southern border. Therefore, the House of 16
Representatives urges Governor Andy Beshear to join the growing number of governors 17
across the nation, and express the support of the Commonwealth of Kentucky for the 18
State of Texas in their efforts to secure the southern border of the United States of 19
America; 20
NOW, THEREFORE, 21
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the 22
Commonwealth of Kentucky: 23
Section 1. The House of Representatives strongly urges Governor Andy 24
Beshear to express support for Governor Greg Abbott and the State of Texas in their 25
efforts to secure the southern border. 26
Section 2. The Clerk of the House is directed to transmit a copy of this 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1855
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Resolution to Governor Andy Beshear. 1