Has there been a more physical federal/state challenge since the 101st Airborne was used to integrate Birmingham, AL schools at bayonet point?
At this point, Texas quite literally holds the ground, by means of military force. What are the Feds going to do? Send in an FBI swat team? Federalize troops and counter-attack? Write stronkly worded letters? Arrest State officials? Cut off budget streams? Maybe I'm overthinking this, but there are very rough Ruby Ridge themes playing in my head - with the Feds feeling compelled to flex muscles on Texas (Fed v State as opposed to Fed v Individual).
If there's one thing the USG doesn't like, it is having any level of authority below it issuing a challenge. This is causing many Dem heads to explode quietly. If Texas holds firm, what's to keep the nine lefty states mentioned above from blocking busloads of refugees at their state border, or some such unilateral action? On and on such questions.
It'll probably all fizzle away with some backroom deal. The invaders will be allowed full passage elsewhere. Hell, the USG might even ship them to crossing points in other states at US expense. That'd be how .gov likes to solve things. Avoid the issue, spend fed bucks for int'l causes, work around, declare victory.
Abbott just called the bluff, for now:
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