The Texas National Guard has seized a city park on the US-Mexico border to limit the flow of illegal immigrants into the state.
Texas Governor Greg Abbot has taken control of Shelby Park in the city of Eagle Pass and has reportedly instructed the state’s National Guard to stop federal agents from patrolling the area.
Eagle Pass is the town where border agents will normally first encounter migrants crossing the border.
Razor wire has now been set up around the park to block off the area.
Texas National Guard takes urgent action to seize control of border park in bid to curb migrant crisisGetty
The Texas Military Dept, which has had a presence in the park since 2021, said: “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.”
The Border Patrol union have praised Abbot 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 getaways. Governor Abbott’s actions should be seen as a force multiplier.”
However, Eagle Pass’ Mayor said that residents were not on board.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
National Guard soldiers stand guard on the banks of the Rio Grande river at Shelby Park on January 12, 2024 in Eagle Pass, Texas
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Writing on Facebook, he said: “That is not a decision that we agreed to. This is not something that we wanted. This is not something that we asked for as a city.”
To combat the move, the Department of Justice has filed a complaint with the US Supreme Court.
“Texas's new actions demonstrate an escalation of the State's measures to block Border Patrol's ability to patrol or even to survey the border and be in a position to respond to emergencies,” the Justice Department said.
The move is the latest escalation in a rising conflict between President Joe Biden and Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott over border policies.
The filing comes after the Biden Administration asked the Supreme Court to allow Border Patrol agents to cut down razor wire installed on the US-Mexico border.
The razor wire had been installed in an effort to deter migrants from crossing a 29-mile stretch of the Rio Grande.
The Department of Justice has filed a complaint with the US Supreme Court
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Last year, Texan Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Biden’s administration to stop the wire cutting, stating that it illegally destroys state property and undermines security.
The razor wire was laid down by state troopers and National Guardsmen deployed by the state, in an operation that has so far cost more than $11billion.
Abbott has also authorised installing floating barriers in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass and allowed troopers to arrest migrants on trespassing charges.
Biden’s administration said the wire stops Border Patrol agents from reaching migrants as they cross the river.
However, Texas officials have argued that the administration has cut the wire in order to help people illegally cross the border.
Border Patrol agents to cut down razor wire installed on the US-Mexico borderGettyIn December 2023 alone, over 230,000 people crossed the US-Mexico border illegally, adding increasing pressure for US President Joe Biden.
On January 3, House Speaker Mike Johnson led a delegation of 64 Republicans to the southern border, who were calling for tougher border restrictions.
Speaking at a news conference about Biden’s national security proposal, which requests for $14billion in protecting the border, Johnson said: “If President Biden wants a supplemental spending bill focused on national security, it better begin by defending America's national security.”
His comments prompted a “here here” and “that's right” from other members in attendance.
The group were slammed by White House spokesperson Andrew Bates who criticised them for blocking Biden’s request for funding.
“In fact, right now, instead of joining the Biden Administration and members of both parties in the Senate to find common ground, Speaker Johnson is continuing to block President Biden's proposed funding to hire thousands of new Border Patrol agents, hire more asylum officers and immigration judges, provide local communities hosting migrants additional grant funding, and invest in cutting edge technology that is critical to stopping deadly fentanyl from entering our country,” Bates said.