The Racism Is The Point

The test positivity rate for migrants in South Texas is currently 8.3%. From Oct 1 to June 30, 163,433 migrant family members have been admitted into the US.

If 8.3% had COVID, that's only 13,563 migrants with COVID in 9 months.

Yesterday alone Texas reported 11,774 new cases.

— Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) August 3, 2021

Which is one reason the court was unimpressed with Abbott's legal arguments:

Breaking: A federal judge has temporarily blocked Gov. Greg Abbott's order that state troopers must pull over drivers transporting migrants “who pose a risk of carrying COVID-19" while a legal challenge plays out. https://t.co/ee8JL1Ft6r

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) August 3, 2021

Abbott has defended his order as necessary to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Texas, while advocates for migrants say it would disrupt federal immigration efforts and invite troopers to racially profile people.

Fernando García, executive director for the Border Network for Human Rights, applauded the decision. He called the state’s defense of the order hypocritical in the first place, given Abbott's ban on COVID-19 prevention measures like mask mandates in schools.

“It was very clear that the state was advancing an anti-immigrant agenda rather than concerns for border residents,” he said.

The judges would also have accepted "racist, xenophobic agenda which would shame even Trump."

Meanwhile, Texas parents are beginning to realize no one is being allowed to look out for their children at school this fall, as the pandemic doesn't just continue, but increases:

Since Gov. Greg Abbott has prohibited schools from requiring masks and online classes will not be offered, concerned parents concerned are left with few options this school year. https://t.co/tGNvW7bBGo

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) August 3, 2021

The first day of school is just a couple of weeks away. The mother of two, whose older child attends school in Allen, has been watching COVID-19 cases surge again in Texas, spurred by the emergence of the much more contagious delta variant.

“I am absolutely scared to death,” she said.

Her older son is 11 years old, too young by just a few months to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Now that Gov. Greg Abbott has prohibited schools from requiring masks and online classes will not be offered, she said she’s running out of ways to protect her child.

“I feel like a trapped animal that can't do anything to protect her babies,” Contreras said. “I would really prefer for [the school district] to offer virtual learning again.”

Yeah, they're not gonna be distracted by what's going on at the border, or by Abbott's blunt appeal to racism.  Now that the court has taken that away from him, he might yell (impotently) about the courts, but who's going to listen?  School starts in a few weeks; this case will be over the horizon in the rear view mirror by then.