Texas Governor’s Border Slowdown Risks Backlash Before Election

Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s effort to combat illegal immigration by ramping up truck safety inspections at the border risks a backlash at the ballot box if the delays continue to disrupt shipments of goods to retailers.

Abbott, a Republican who is up for re-election on Nov. 8, has already come in for criticism from his Democratic opponent, business groups and even the state agriculture commissioner, a fellow member of the GOP. They argue that his order to require safety inspections on all trucks that cross from Mexico is doing nothing to deter smuggling or undocumented immigrants, and is wrecking havoc on cross-border commerce at a time when Americans are already suffering from high inflation.