In a surprising turn of events, nearly all Republican governors have thrown their support behind Texas Governor Greg Abbott in his ongoing dispute with the Biden administration over his efforts to control illegal migrant crossings into the state from Mexico. The unity among Republican governors was evident as a map of U.S. states revealed their overwhelming backing of Governor Abbott's border policies.

The dispute between Governor Abbott and the Biden administration escalated on Monday when the Supreme Court, in a narrow 5-4 decision, ruled in favor of federal agents, allowing them to resume cutting razor wire that Texas had installed along a section of the southern border. This decision came as a surprise to many who expected a different outcome.

Governor Abbott has taken several physical measures, including the installation of concertina wire along the Rio Grande, to stem the flow of migrants entering Texas. According to data from the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency, nearly 1.4 million migrants entered the state illegally between October 2022 and September 2023, slightly lower than the previous year.

Despite the Supreme Court ruling, Governor Abbott declared that the fight was "not over" and lauded the Texas National Guard for their continued efforts to "hold the line" at the border. He invoked the right to self-defense granted by the state's constitution, referring to laws designed to protect Texas from the threat of invasion. Governor Abbott also criticized the Biden administration for its failure to enforce immigration laws passed by Congress.

The White House criticized Governor Abbott's border tactics as "political stunts," branding the use of razor wire as "cruel" and "inhumane." The Biden administration faced calls to federalize the Texas National Guard due to Governor Abbott's dissent.

The CBP recorded a higher rate of migrant encounters, reaching almost 2.5 million, along the southern border in the year leading up to September, surpassing previous years. Texas, as one of the four states sharing a border with Mexico, accounts for approximately half of the entire border's length.

Governor Abbott's invocation of self-defense clauses and his assertion that "the supreme law of the land supersedes any federal statutes to the contrary" has garnered support from all but one of the 26 Republican governors. Vermont Governor Phil Scott stands as the sole exception.

Prominent figures among the 25 Republican governors who signed a joint statement expressing solidarity with Governor Abbott include Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, and Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders. Governor DeSantis emphasized that if the Constitution rendered states powerless in defending themselves against invasion, Texas would never have joined the union. Governor Youngkin stated that Virginia "stands with Texas," while Governor DeWine described the situation at the southern border as "untenable" and worsening. Governor Sanders asserted that if President Biden does not defend the states, they will have to defend themselves.

The mounting support from Republican governors highlights the deepening divide between Texas and the federal government. As Texas faces renewed calls for independence, often referred to as "Texit," akin to Britain's exit from the European Union, the border dispute remains a contentious issue that shows no signs of resolution.

As the legal battle continues, it remains to be seen how the Biden administration will respond to the unified stance of Republican governors and whether further actions will be taken to address the concerns raised by Governor Abbott and his supporters.