CBP rebuts Abbott’s claim that U.S. Border Patrol lacks access to virus vaccine

MISSION, Texas --  Gov. Greg Abbott, during a news conference Tuesday at the Texas-Mexico border to discuss the state’s border security efforts amid what the governor claimed was an "ongoing humanitarian crisis," alleged that the Biden Administration was not providing access to Covid-19 vaccines to U.S. Border Patrol staff.

Abbott's remarks came after he took an aerial tour of the border and received a briefing from representatives of the U.S. Border Patrol, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Texas National Guard.

In a statement issued afterwards by the governor's office, it said "the Governor condemned the Biden Administration... for failing to provide vaccines to members of the U.S. Border Patrol."

But multiple U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials in the El Paso sector rebutted Abbott's claims in statements provided to ABC-7, saying efforts have been made to vaccinate frontline employees.

"CBP employees are currently receiving vaccines from a variety of sources including federal providers like the VA," said CBP spokesman Roger Maier.

Landon Hutchens, a CBP public affairs specialist, elaborated further with this more detailed explanation.

"The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is partnering with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to administer the Covid-19 vaccine to employees in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

Approximately 80 percent of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel are in Phase 1A or Phase 1B according to CDC prioritization guidance. For CBP, Phase 1 includes:

Phase 1A: CBP employees identified as first responders with a direct nexus to healthcare.

Phase 1B: CBP employees identified as all other first responders and law enforcement.

DHS is exploring additional pathways to identify and prioritize Covid-19 vaccine allocations for frontline personnel, including by coordinating with state and local authorities.

CBP will continue to prioritize the well-being of our workforce during this evolving situation and to identify opportunities to expedite the delivery of vaccines. CBP leadership strongly encourages all CBP personnel to consider receiving the Covid-19 vaccine as soon as possible."

At his news conference, Abbott also accused the Biden administration of inviting illegal immigration.

“Border security is the federal government’s responsibility, but the State of Texas will not allow the administration’s failures to endanger the lives of innocent Texans. Instead, Texas is stepping up to fill the gaps left open by the federal government to secure the border, apprehend dangerous criminals, and keep Texans safe,” Abbott said.

Abbott has said that DPS would integrate with the Texas National Guard to "deny Mexican Cartels and other smugglers the ability to move drugs and people" into the state in what is being called Operation Lone Star.

A White House spokesperson told ABC-7 that open border claims being made against the Biden Administration by Abbott and others simply weren't true.

“This Administration has on countless occasions sent a message loud and clear to those attempting to cross the southern border: now is not the time to come. The vast majority of migrants attempting to enter the United States unlawfully right now will be turned away. We are working through comprehensive reform to our nation’s immigration system, with a specific focus on remedying the ineffective and immoral policies of the previous Administration and that will take time,” the White House spokesperson said.

You can watch Abbott's entire remarks in the video player below.