February 18, 2015 6:43 PM

Abbott says his border security goal is zero unauthorized crossings

Governor Abbott compares it to police in large cities who work toward the goal of "no more murders, no more wrecks, no more thefts”

Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday said the goal of his border security plan is to make sure no one illegally crosses the Texas-Mexico border.

During a press conference with other top Republican leaders excluding Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, Abbott compared border security efforts to police operations in large cities. The goal that police work toward is "no more murders, no more wrecks, no more thefts," Abbott said. "Border security means that only those who are authorized to cross the border” can do so, Abbott said.

Speaking alongside Sen. Ted Cruz, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and Attorney General Ken Paxton, Abbott also stressed the need for the Texas National Guard to remain deployed along the Rio Grande as long as it takes to scale up the Department of Public Safety’s presence in the region.

"The best way to secure the border is with law enforcement officers who can do that job," he said.