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Earth Intelligence

25 Jan 2024 — 5 min read

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U.S.-Border Crossings
U.S.-Houthi Tensions

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U.S.-Border Crossings:

Yesterday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott released a statement addressing the issue of immigration and border security. In the statement, Abbott claims that the federal government has not fulfilled its duties to enforce immigration laws, a responsibility that includes the protection of states from illegal immigration. He points out that this perceived inaction has led to a substantial increase in illegal border crossings, which he quantifies as more than 6 million individuals over three years, a number larger than the populations of 33 individual U.S. states.
Governor Abbott's letter also touches on specific federal actions that have worsened the situation, such as policies and spending that have not effectively deterred illegal immigration, and have instead, led to an increase in crossings along the Rio Grande. The statement suggests that these actions contradict the intent of existing laws and increase risks for individuals involved in these crossings.
Citing the U.S. Constitution, Governor Abbott refers to provisions that he interprets as ensuring federal protection of states against invasion. He argues that due to the lack of federal action to address large-scale illegal immigration, Texas has invoked its right to self-defense as permitted by the Constitution. As part of this self-declared right, Texas has deployed state resources, including the National Guard and public safety personnel, to manage border security.
The statement from Governor Abbott concludes by reaffirming Texas's commitment to securing its borders using state resources and authority. This action by Texas reflects ongoing national discussions about the division of responsibilities between state and federal governments concerning immigration policy and border security.

U.S.-Houthi Tensions:

In a defensive action to ensure maritime safety, U.S. Central Command forces neutralized an imminent threat by destroying two anti-ship missiles prepared for launch by Houthi terrorists. On January 24th, at around 2:30 AM Sanaa time, these missiles were identified within Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen, targeting the Southern Red Sea.
The U.S. military assessed that the missiles posed a direct threat to both merchant ships and U.S. Navy vessels operating in the region and took decisive action to eliminate the missiles. Later the same day, at approximately 2 PM Sanaa time, the situation escalated when Houthi forces launched three anti-ship ballistic missiles toward the U.S.-flagged container ship M/V Maersk Detroit, which was navigating the Gulf of Aden.
The USS Gravely (DDG 107) intercepted and destroyed two of the missiles, while one missile fell into the sea. This swift response by the USS Gravely ensured there were no injuries or damage to the vessel, maintaining the integrity and safety of commercial shipping operations against the backdrop of ongoing regional tensions.

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