The Texas National Guard has seized control of the nearly 50-acre (20-hectare) Shelby Park along the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, put up fencing, and is now hindering USBP from entering the area as part of the state’s effort to curb the surge of illegal immigration into Texas. Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas said he was informed that the decision was in connection to the governor's emergency declaration. Salinas told reporters it was not something the city had requested and he said his understanding is that Border Patrol was now not in the area as a result.
Abbott posted on X, formerly Twitter, of his government's actions, emphasizing that with their "fencing" and blockade, they are making clear that Texas will be a tough place to cross.
As caravans of migrants are moving through Mexico toward the U.S. border, we are making clear that Texas will be a tough place to cross. https://t.co/G4LJfKfiK3
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 12, 2024
In a statement, the Texas Military Department said it has maintained a presence in the park since 2021, including security points and temporary barriers. "The current posture is to prepare for future illegal immigrant surges and to restrict access to organizations that perpetuate illegal immigrant crossings in the park and greater Eagle Pass area," it said.
Meanwhile, the Border Patrol union confirmed to Fox News that agents were being blocked from entering by Texas soldiers, and praised Abbott for taking matters into his own hands. "Governor Abbott is not harming Border Patrol operations, he is enhancing them," National Border Patrol Council Brandon Judd said in a statement. "His seizing control of Shelby Park allows our agents to deploy to troubled spots that experience high numbers of gotaways. Governor Abbott’s actions should be seen as a force multiplier."
Likewise, senior Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sources also confirmed that Border Patrol is being blocked at two areas of operation in Eagle Pass and said that agents pulled resources to avoid a confrontation. "It's of no operational or law enforcement benefit to try to block federal authorities from being able to do their job," a senior official said, adding that the tactic has no impact on the migrant flow, and that now, when Texas is done receiving them, they are still turned over at other locations. Therefore, it added extra steps to the process.
The Texas-Biden feud continues amid the worsening border crisis
"It's like a modern-day showdown at the O.K. Corral, but this time it's in Eagle Pass, Texas. The face-off is between the Texas National Guard and the Biden regime. Thanks to a fully fed-up Governor Greg Abbott, Texas has now taken control of Biden's 'New Voter' invasion,'" Revolver News wrote.
According to Abbott's spokesperson Renae Eze, Texas will continue to deploy Texas National Guard soldiers, DPS troopers and more barriers, utilizing every tool and strategy to respond to Biden's ongoing border crisis.
Separately, the Biden administration has previously filed a case against Texas over a recently signed anti-illegal immigration law that allows state and local law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants, which the administration says interferes with the federal government's authority and frustrates the U.S. immigration operations and proceedings, and hurts relations with foreign governments. Texas, on the other hand, has sued the administration for cutting and destroying razor wire set up by Texas to stop illegal crossings. That wire has been set up in areas close to Shelby Park. The lawsuit is ongoing and could soon be before the Supreme Court. (Related: 50 Texas counties have now passed resolutions declaring an INVASION.)
"We believe that Gov. Abbott's policies and political stunts are not safe, not safe for Texas communities and our CBP, our law enforcement on the ground who are trying to do their work. It puts them in harm's way, and they dehumanize and demonize immigrants. That's what his political stunts do," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said last month. Abbott's office has dismissed the criticism leveled at it by the federal government, and has instead accused the administration of fueling the crisis with "open border policies."
Head over to BorderSecurity.news to read more about the clash between federal and state border policies.
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