After Lifting Covid Restrictions, Gov. Greg Abbott Claims Undocumented Immigrants Are Spreading Virus In Texas - Forbes

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Topline

One day after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) eliminated most of his state’s coronavirus restrictions, the governor claimed immigrants released into his state by federal authorities are helping to spread the virus.

Key Facts

Abbott tweeted Wednesday that President Joe Biden’s administration is allowing “hundreds” of undocumented immigrants who tested positive for the coronavirus to enter his state, a claim also made by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

The governor’s office did not offer any evidence for the claim, but he might be referring to reports from Telemundo and Fox News this week on migrants who were released into the border city of Brownsville who subsequently tested positive for the virus (an Abbott spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment).

Brownsville spokesperson Felipe Romero told Forbes 108 migrants tested positive after being dropped off in his city between Jan. 25 and March 1, or just over three per day, a positivity rate of 6.3% — he told Telemundo these migrants were advised to quarantine.

By comparison, Texas as a whole has reported around 294,000 confirmed coronavirus cases between Jan. 25 and March 1, and in recent days, the state has averaged about 4,800 daily cases at a positivity rate of just under 9%.

Outside of Brownsville, it remains unclear how many coronavirus cases have been reported among migrants apprehended along the U.S.-Mexico border (U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not respond to a request for comment).

Crucial Quote

“The Biden Administration is recklessly releasing hundreds of illegal immigrants who have COVID into Texas communities,” Abbott tweeted.

Tangent

On Tuesday, Abbott rescinded Texas’ mask mandate and announced all businesses in the state can reopen at full capacity. Many public health experts believe this decision could lead to a resurgence of the virus, especially since positivity rates remain fairly high in the state.

Chief Critic

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, an attorney with the pro-immigrant American Immigration Council, accused Abbott of spreading “cynical outrage” and scapegoating migrants for Texas’ wider coronavirus outbreak.

Key Background

In the early days of Biden’s term, federal immigration authorities began releasing on parole certain families with extenuating circumstances caught crossing the border until they have asylum hearings. The practice is a stark departure from former President Donald Trump, who required most asylum-seekers to wait on the Mexican side of the border.