Good morning,

We asked readers what term or phrase best described people who entered the country illegally. You'll find their answers below.

This is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, January 16, 2024.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Abbott Responds to Accusations State Let Illegal Border Crossers Drown

• U.S. Border Patrol agents and a Democrat member of Congress are claiming Texas is to blame for three illegal border crossers drowning near Shelby Park in Eagle Pass. But state officials, including Gov. Greg Abbott, say those accusations are without merit. Emily Medeiros has the story.
        
• Last week, Abbott seized control of the riverfront city property that has been used by illegal aliens to enter the country—often with border patrol agents assisting them across. The governor's action also forbade those federal agents from entering the park.
       
• Shortly after, three individuals attempting to enter texas illegally drowned while crossing the Rio Grande. Democrat U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar accused the Texas Military Department of being responsible for their deaths by preventing federal agents from rescuing them.
       
• According to the governor, the drownings occurred—and the bodies were recovered in Mexico—before agents raised any concerns. Abbott said Cuellar and the Border Patrol "forgot to get the facts" before making their accusations. Abbott said responsibility for the drownings rests with the Biden administration's policies that encourage illegal crossings.

Texans Increase Calls for Reliable Energy

• As that Arctic blast that swept across the midwest and into Texas continues to keep the state's temperatures unseasonably cold, there are renewed calls for reliable energy. Sydnie Henry has the details. 

        
• The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which oversees the state’s power grid, issued conservation appeals on both Sunday and Monday. Because of cloud cover and low wind, the "renewable" or "green" energy generators have not been producing at the levels needed.
        
• The calls for reliable energy continue to ring out as Texans remember the impact of winter storm Uri in 2021, which left many Texans in the dark as unreliable renewable energy sources like wind and solar failed.
          
•  “Renewables are a fraud on American taxpayers. And renewable subsidies are theft.” – Energy expert Bill Peacock
         
• "We need energy generation that works all day every day (and night); not those subject to conditions." – State Rep. Tom Oliverson (R-Cypress)

Dan Patrick Makes First Endorsement Against House Member

• As the statewide officer presiding over the Texas Senate, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has generally stayed out of races for the House. But, as Brandon Waltens reports, Patrick made an exception this week.
       
• Patrick announced his endorsement of Helen Kerwin of Glen Rose, who is challenging incumbent DeWayne Burns of Cleburne in the GOP primary.
       

• Burns was one of 21 Republicans who sided with Democrats to kill a school choice proposal in the House late last year. He also was among those who voted to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton. Kerwin, who previously served as the mayor of Glenn Rose, also has Gov. Greg Abbott’s endorsement in the race.
       

• Attorney Lyndon Laird is also challenging Burns in the Republican primary.

Texas A&M Faculty Try to Rewrite Texas Public Information Act

• An obscure bureaucratic entity buried deep within Texas A&M is attempting to rewrite the rules for how governmental bodies make information available to the public. If successful, it could have dire implications for citizen oversight.
       
• At issue is a series of requests by the American Accountability Foundation, a non-partisan watchdog group. AAF attempted to learn more about the role of so-called “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” initiatives at A&M’s medical school.
       
• The A&M Faculty Senate's vice president claimed that the inquiry was “harassing,” “threatening,” and a threat to “academic freedom.” As such, the inquiries should be dismissed.
       
• The American Accountability Foundation is asking the Texas A&M general counsel to instruct the faculty on "obligations to comply fully" with information requests. The university has not yet responded.

Tarrant County GOP Passes Anti-DEI Resolution

• As so-called "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" practices continue to be revealed in various government institutions, the Tarrant County Republican Party passed a resolution calling for an end to DEI policies in all taxpayer-funded institutions.
           

• Carlos Turcios, the precinct chair who authored the resolution, called DEI “a poison in the mindset of the younger generations, and a poison to Texas and America.” 

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Quote-Unquote

“We cast no aspersions on any race or creed, but we must remember that every object of our institutions of society and government will fail unless America be kept American.”

– Calvin Coolidge

Y'All Answered

Yesterday, we asked readers which word or phrase best describes the thousands of people crossing illegally into the United States.

Here is a sampling of the responses from folks after they participated in the survey...

• “As a naturalized U.S. citizen who came to this great country LEGALLY,  I am angered by this administration's blatant disregard of immigration laws and putting our nation's security at risk by its failure to protect our borders.” – Maria Elena Salvador-Stein
      

• “I call them Invaders.” – Matthew Thibeault
      

• “Call it what it is and not attempt to diminish the criminal act by using other terms. Failure to use ‘illegal alien’ would be similar to calling a thief a ‘borrower of goods.’” – Harry S. Tervalon, Jr. 
      

• “They are technically Illegal Aliens. But make no mistake, this is a foreign invasion orchestrated by the communist Biden regime.” – Jeanne Huryn
      

• “Illegal alien is the correct term according to federal law and the English language. Invader is also accurate in some ways.” – Jim Pikl
     

• “They are illegal aliens. They came here illegally, so there is no need to sugarcoat that.” – Corrine Jung 
      

• “They are criminals and as such should be immediately deported.” – Fred Wootton
      

• “I've always said ‘illegal alien’ because it's what they were called for years, and I'm not exactly one to worry about being politically correct. But now that ‘foreign invader’ has been suggested, I'll absolutely make the effort to switch!” – Julie McCarty
      

• "I answered 'Something Else' as their true name is 'future Democrat voter.' They are the key to the Dumbocrats' plan to move America to a permanent one-party state." – Tom Wilson
     

• "They really are best described as 'Government Sponsored Invaders.'" – Rachel Salajean
       

• “For someone who was honored by being allowed to IMMIGRATE LEGALLY to this great country...It is a slap in the face if anyone uses the word 'immigrant' to describe these INVADERS!” – John R. Makow
      

• “Doesn't matter what you call them. They are not here legally!” – Cindy Middleton
      

• “The term ‘illegal alien,’ when broken down, means an individual that is not from this area and has not gone through the legal process to get here. All the other terms are window dressing for all of the liberal idiots that are trying to cover up our problem.” – Jimmy Lane
      

• “I say illegal alien.” – Maudie Tarver
      

• “Any invader that has crossed our border illegally should be deported immediately and should NEVER be allowed to re-enter our country under any circumstance. Illegal entry should automatically void any claim of asylum. NO EXCEPTIONS!” – Howard Benham
      

• “Criminal.” – Meghan Matson
      

• “When people come to a country to make a home, they are immigrants.  When they come to overthrow it, they are invaders.” – James Sterling
      

• "I used to say illegal aliens, but it has gone way beyond that now. 168 countries is an invasion, and it has all been orchestrated by the JoeBama regime." – Cheryl Alexander
     

• “I call them Illegal Immigrants, but ‘Foreign Invader’ is certainly the best description.” –  Steve Price
      

• “I think the most common vernacular is illegal alien, but I choose ‘Foreign Invader’ because I believe that is what the border crossing has become. We are being invaded by a political army from the evil ideology known as liberalism, with the left using the illegal alien as their weapon of choice.” – Kayne Parrish
      

• “I fail to understand why the current border mess isn't viewed the same as one returning to their home, finding it had broken into, and now have to support those who broke in for the rest of their lives.” – Roy Leatherberry 
   

• “The people that enter from a different country without passports, visas, work permits, etc. are illegal aliens.  Try entering other countries and see what happens.  Our laws need to be enforced.” – Debra Davis
      

• “I answered today's one click survey with ‘illegal alien’ because that is what they ALL are. However, the vast majority of those coming across for the last several years are also ‘foreign invaders’ doubling up the reason they must be stopped!” – Harry Hingst
      

• “With such lax rules for entering the country anyway, why do it illegally?” – Arthur Potter
      

• “I choose Illegal Alien, they may also be a hostile force to carry out hate and discontent as a fifth column, to help subvert the Republic. Our elected officials are providing aid and comfort to them. I’m old enough to remember when this was treason.” – Bob Davis 
      

• “You cannot tackle the problem or correct an issue if you cannot define it in proper terms.  We have to stop falling into the trap set by Leftists and the media by legitimizing any foreigner’s right to break our immigration laws by using terms like migrants or immigrants. Strictly speaking, these are illegal aliens crossing our border, and armed cartel members are foreign invaders! Both must be turned back without recourse for legitimacy!” – Michael Edinburgh

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