U.S-Mexico border: Public advocacy, grassroots efforts in Texas

Danielle De Lucia

Chief Editor of News

As the federal government and Texas continued feuding over immigration enforcement, a ‘Take Our Border Back’ convoy and grassroots operation from Virginia to Texas took place. The conservative convoy stopped in Dripping Springs, receiving support and opposition. At the same time, policy advocacy groups to assist migrants are increasing action.

The Federal Government Dispute

The Biden Administration and Gov. Greg Abbott battle on actions handling the U.S.-Mexico border; current issues for the U.S. Customs and Border Protections (CBP) involve enforcement actions, search and rescue efforts, drug seizures and more.

Texas officials installed concertina wire last year as state action after Gov. Abbott criticized President Joe Biden over border security. While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) still uses Title 8, the Biden Administration is considering executive action due to the surge of illegal migration. This week, the Senate passed a border deal and foreign aid package, yet the bill is unlikely to pass in the House.

Last October, Texas sued the federal government over Border Portal agents for cutting off the wire. Recently, the Supreme Court granted the federal border agents authorization to cut the wire to ensure the safety of migrants and officers. The Constitution yields the responsibility of border protection measures to the federal government.

In December, Gov. Abbott signed into law SB4, allowing law enforcement to arrest migrants on state-level illegal entry charges. This law goes into effect in March.

Public Advocacy and Grassroots Effort

Public advocacy groups and grassroots efforts are essential in our democracy, but what helps make them effective? Wayne Kraemer, a senior lecturer who teaches public advocacy at Texas State, gives his input about the importance of public advocacy and his thoughts on this recent grassroots effort.

Q: Why is public advocacy essential?

Kraemer: “I think advocacy is an essential component of a democracy. But it’s the way the advocacy is affected that matters. So in other words, it’s [public advocacy] going to take legislation, it’s [public advocacy] going to take sound policy to make long-term change. And I think what some of these advocacy groups might be trying to do is to, in effect, a quick change, without the deliberation that I think is needed to make good long-term decisions.”

Q: What do you think of the grassroots effort ‘Take Our Border Back’?

Kraemer: “I like to believe that any grassroots effort can influence…it’s [a grassroots effort] not just creating a convoy to go and do a protest. It [grassroot efforts] has to be a long-term sustained movement. And that’s difficult because the sustaining of the movement in the maintenance of the movement is work. Sometimes these people don’t want to put that work in what they want. They want a quick change. Sometimes it [grassroots efforts] just can’t happen that way. I don’t know what their motives are. And so, that makes a difference. If they have sincere motives, they should be working for long-term change.”