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A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION calling upon Governor Andy Beshear to 1
support Texas Governor Greg Abbott in securing the Texas border. 2
WHEREAS, the Executive Branch of the United States has a constitutional duty to 3
enforce federal laws protecting the states, including the immigration laws that are 4
currently in place; and 5
WHEREAS, President Biden has failed to enforce those laws and has even violated 6
them, resulting in an unprecedented influx of illegal immigrants entering the United 7
States; and 8
WHEREAS, the President has violated his oath to faithfully execute immigration 9
laws enacted by Congress; and 10
WHEREAS, as a result of the President's dereliction of his constitutional duty, 11
more than six million illegal immigrants have crossed the southern border in three years, 12
surpassing the total population of approximately 33 states in this country; and 13
WHEREAS, in fiscal year 2023, United States Customs and Border Protection 14
reported over 3.2 million encounters, of which over 2.4 million were recorded at the 15
southern border. The total number of apprehensions were almost equal to the number of 16
births registered in the United States in 2022, at over 3.6 million; and 17
WHEREAS, the Border Patrol processed more migrants who entered the United 18
States illegally in December 2023 than in any other month in the agency's history. In the 19
words of a former immigration official under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack 20
Obama, "It's an unsustainable number of arrivals"; and 21
WHEREAS, with the Border Patrol overwhelmed by the large number of migrants 22
to process, it is being compelled to get people through as quickly as possible, leading to a 23
less vigorous vetting process; and 24
WHEREAS, the inability of the Border Patrol to adequate vet and process the 25
unprecedented number of migrants entering the United States leaves the country 26
vulnerable to increases in crime, terrorism, drug overdose deaths, housing shortages, 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1841
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human trafficking, and the potential for unprecedented harm on all persons in the United 1
States and this Commonwealth; and 2
WHEREAS, the failure of the President to enforce immigration laws makes every 3
state a border state; and 4
WHEREAS, Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution of the United States promises 5
that the federal government "shall protect each [State] against invasion."; and 6
WHEREAS, Article I, Section 10, clause 3 of the Constitution of the United States 7
acknowledges "the States' sovereign interest in protecting their borders."; and 8
WHEREAS, because the Biden Administration has failed to fulfill the duties 9
imposed by Article IV of the Constitution, Texas, and by extension Governor Abbott, has 10
been left with no choice but to invoke Article I, Section 10, clause 3 to preserve its self-11
defense; and 12
WHEREAS, by invoking Article I, Section 10, Clause 3 of the Constitution of the 13
United States, Governor Abbott is acting within his constitutional authority to protect 14
Texas from external forces that have the potential to cause irreparable harm to citizens of 15
that state; and 16
WHEREAS, governors of approximately 25 states have already announced their 17
support for the State of Texas and Governor Abbott; and 18
WHEREAS, the General Assembly strongly urges the Governor to stand with and 19
support Governor Abbott in his noble quest to secure the Texas border and to provide any 20
necessary resources to assist in securing the border; 21
NOW, THEREFORE, 22
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 23
Kentucky, the House of Representatives concurring therein: 24
Section 1. The Senate and House of Representatives calls upon Governor 25
Beshear to support Texas Governor Abbott in his valiant efforts to secure the Texas 26
border and to provide any necessary resources to assist Governor Abbott in his pursuit. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1841
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Section 2. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 1
Resolution to Governor Andy Beshear. 2