In a show of solidarity, House Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed his support for Texas Governor Greg Abbott as their ongoing dispute with the Biden administration over border security escalates. This comes after a recent Supreme Court ruling granting the federal government authority to remove razor wire installed by Texas along their southern border.

The conservative-controlled Supreme Court issued a 5-4 ruling on Monday, allowing the Biden administration to remove concertina wire that has been linked to injuries suffered by undocumented migrants. Responding to the ruling, Governor Abbott issued a statement on Wednesday, declaring that the federal government had broken the "compact" between the United States and the States.

Abbott asserted his constitutional authority to defend and protect Texas, invoking Article I, Section 10, Clause 3. He declared an invasion and emphasized that Texas's constitutional authority supersedes any conflicting federal statutes. Speaker Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, publicly endorsed Abbott's stance late Wednesday night, pledging the support of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

Johnson's endorsement follows similar declarations from other Republican governors and lawmakers who stand with Abbott. Governors Glenn Youngkin of Virginia, Ron DeSantis of Florida, Kristi Noem of South Dakota, Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, and Brian Kemp of Georgia have all publicly expressed their support for the Texas governor.

Republican lawmakers in Congress, such as Representatives Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Clay Higgins (R-Louisiana), also voiced their disagreement with the Supreme Court ruling and called for accountability, with Higgins asserting that Texas should "stand their ground" against what he perceives as federal overreach. Speaker Johnson echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need to hold Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas accountable.

Notably, in a separate case last year, a federal district judge ruled against Texas in a dispute over floating river barriers installed along the Rio Grande. The judge's decision rejected the notion that the Texas governor had the authority to unilaterally declare an invasion without approval from Congress, noting that the state's defense against invasion should only be temporary until federal resources can respond.

Most recently, the Texas National Guard, under Governor Abbott's orders, took control of Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, denying entry to federal Border Patrol authorities. The seizure of control occurred after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked federal authorities from removing or destroying the barriers. The Biden administration sought the intervention of the Supreme Court, which ultimately ruled in their favor, allowing for the removal of the barriers.

In response, Governor Abbott has directed the state's National Guard to deploy more concertina wire along the border, exploiting the fact that the Supreme Court did not explicitly prohibit additional installations. When asked if he would instruct state officers to physically prevent federal authorities from accessing the border, Abbott did not categorically reject the idea, stating that Texas is simply securing the border and detailing the measures taken to prevent illegal entry.

Abbott's refusal to accept the Supreme Court ruling and his ongoing power struggle with the Biden administration could potentially lead to a constitutional and judicial crisis. While the Biden administration has yet to directly address Abbott's claims of superseding federal law, calls from Democratic Representative Joaquin Castro for sole federal control of the Texas National Guard highlight the mounting pressure on the White House to further intervene.