A grassroots group has organized a convoy to the southern border, where they will hold multiple rallies urging the Biden administration to secure the border.
The convoy, dubbed “Take Our Border Back,” will kick off on Jan. 29 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and make its way to San Ysidro, California. The event will wrap with rallies in Texas, Arizona, and California on Feb. 3.
Organizer Noél Roberts of Arizona told The Epoch Times that the group has been working with communities and law enforcement officials along the route to ensure the safety of convoy participants and others who attend the rallies.
Ms. Roberts said there had been false reports that the convoy plans to line up along the border and engage with illegal immigrants attempting to cross into the United States.
“First of all, we’re not going to be on the line of the border,” she said, adding that participants would not be engaging with anyone who is illegally crossing into the country. “We deeply respect [law enforcement] and will never infringe on that.”
Ms. Roberts said they want to unite with their fellow Americans to send a message to the federal government that it is time to secure the border and stop the drugs, human trafficking, and other crimes that are harming communities across the nation.
She also clarified that the convoy would not be comprised of only truckers driving big rigs, as reported by other media outlets.
“This is an all-American convoy: trucks, cars, bikes, families ... this is just people that are going to get together on the third [of February],” she said. “We’re trying to unite the people who are afraid to leave their houses and have their voices heard.”
Congressman Keith Self (R-Texas), who said he is scheduled to speak at the Eagle Pass, Texas rally, believes the event will give people a “peaceful” opportunity to express their displeasure with the federal government’s border policies.
“This is the time for us to rise up as the American people and demand that our president do his job,” he continued. “This should be a peaceful movement of the American people.”
According to Ms. Roberts, the event was prompted by a group of friends who recently toured the southern border.
“They decided to put something together to help highlight the problems that we all know—from living in the southern states—exist,” she said.
‘Come in Legally’
Ms. Roberts, a first-generation American, said she supports immigration when it is done legally.“So, we just want them to come in legally, not stop them permanently,” Ms. Roberts said. “I’m a first-generation [American], daughter of an immigrant from Syria. This is personal for me.
“My dad came legally, and all eight of his brothers came legally. They all had a job the day they got to America,” she explained. “They were sponsored. They went through immigration. ... They got their citizenship ... so I know it can be done.”
Supreme Court Ruling
Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, ruled in favor of the Biden administration to allow federal agents to cut the razor wire Texas installed along the border in an attempt to slow illegal crossings.The showdown between the state of Texas and the Biden administration has intensified as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has refused to back down despite the highest court’s Jan. 22 ruling.
“We are adding more razor wire as we speak right now to make sure that we are doing even more to secure the border,” Mr. Abbott said during an interview on Thursday with Bloomberg TV.
On Wednesday, the Republican governor issued a statement regarding the state’s “constitutional right to defend and protect” its border.
The statement accused the president of violating his “oath to faithfully execute immigration laws enacted by Congress.”
Since President Biden took office in 2021, “more than six million illegal immigrants have crossed our southern border,” Mr. Abbott wrote.
Last week, more than a dozen Democrats crossed party lines and voted with Republicans calling on the Biden administration to enforce immigration laws.
“Most of us understand that nations need borders, those borders should be secured, and we should enforce the immigration laws on the books,” said Congressman Jared Goldman (D-Maine), who was among the 14 Democrats who voted for the GOP-led resolution, The Hill reported. “Most of us also understand that those seeking entry to our country deserve an orderly and predictable immigration process. Right now, we have problems on both fronts.”
“Illegal immigration threatens our national security and undermines American jobs,” Mr. Golden continued. “It’s time for Congress and the Biden administration to come together to pass legislation to meaningfully address issues at the border. It should be a top priority in Washington, just like it is in most of America.”
