Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has accused President Joe Biden of “breaking the compact” between the federal government and his state and says he is within his authority to protect the border himself.

He spoke to Fox News hosts Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer about the president’s threats against his state and said he is prepared for the showdown.

“Can you explain what did you decide was the breaking point for you to take the steps that you did? And maybe also just back up and let people know, what are you saying about the compact between the federal government and the state of Texas today?” Perino asked on Thursday.

“So, it was the states that created the United States, and when the states voted to create the United States and have a Constitution, included in that agreement was the compact that the federal government would take care of the states. And Article 4, Section 4 of the Constitution speaks to that and says that if the federal government does not take care of the states and the states are in danger, well, we can ask the federal government to live up to its obligation,” the governor said.

“Then, the authors of the Constitution knew there would be times when the federal government would not live up to its duty. And so they empowered states in Article 1, Section 10, the right of self-defense. And what Texas is asserting is our Article 1, Section 10 right of self-defense because the president of the United States is not fulfilling his duty to enforce the laws passed by Congress that deny illegal entry into the United States,” he said.

“Governor, will you instruct your officers to physically prevent federal officers from accessing that part of the border?” Hemmer asked.

“So what Texas is doing is just very simple. And that is, because the Biden administration has really, truly abdicated its responsibility to secure the border and enforce the laws, Texas very simply is securing the border. And so we put up the razor wire that you were talking about Bill, and we put up all these barricades that actually have denied illegal entry,” the governor said.

“And, as you pointed out also on that screen, that there are criminals coming across our border. Texas has a right as a state to stop criminals from coming into our state and to make arrests of those criminals. And we have National Guard, as well as Texas Department of Public Safety officers, who are there to make those arrests and to deny illegal entry,” Abbott continued.

“And Joe Biden actually does have an option here. Joe Biden’s option is to enforce the laws of the United States and stop this illegal entry,” he said.

After the hosts played a clip of White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre saying that the Texas governor was making it tough for law enforcement to do their jobs, he responded.

“There’s really only one person in America not doing their job, and that’s the president of the United States, who’s not enforcing immigration laws. Also, as she has already been called out and the president and other Democrats and media, they have cast a false narrative about some people dying on the border that apparently Texas denied Border Patrol access to, that’s been completely debunked,” said Abbott.

“The only thing that the spokesperson for Biden can do is to cast aspersions and lies, hoping that people will believe them, because the truth of the matter is, what Texas is doing is what Americans expect to be done. Americans expect the border to be secured. Because Joe Biden has abandoned that responsibility, Texas is stepping up and doing it with all that razor wire that you’re showing right now,” he noted further.