In a move that underscores the escalating tensions between state and federal authorities, Texas has begun arresting migrants for illegal entry into the U.S. at Eagle Pass’s Shelby Park. This action comes in defiance of the Biden administration’s immigration policies and marks a significant shift in the Lone Star State’s approach to handling the ongoing crisis surging at America’s southern border.
Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has directed state law enforcement officials to take control of Shelby Park, barring entry to all, including federal border patrol agents. The arrests, which began on Wednesday, are seen as the first implementation of the new Texas state law that criminalizes illegal border crossing as unlawful trespassing.
Lt. Chris Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Troopers are arresting illegal immigrants for criminal trespass in Shelby Park in Eagle Pass.” He emphasized the state’s proactive stance in curbing illegal crossings between ports of entry. This move has received widespread support among conservative Americans who demand a resolution to the open borders disaster that has unfolded under the control of the Biden administration.
BREAKING: Texas DPS is now rounding up and arresting illegal aliens who are caught invading in Eagle Pass
This comes just one week after TX seized Shelby Park in Eagle Pass from federal authorities
The Biden DOJ is currently suing Texas in order to regain access & allow… pic.twitter.com/hvEXy35M4i
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 18, 2024
The arrests follow a contentious period marked by legal battles and rhetorical clashes. The federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been opposed to Texas’s measures, citing their hindrance to federal agents’ ability to patrol the border effectively and provide emergency aid to migrants.
The conflict reached a peak with the tragic drowning of a mother and two children in the Rio Grande. While initial accusations by Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) blamed the Texas Military Department for these deaths, subsequent investigations revealed that Mexican authorities had recovered the bodies well before any state officers arrived.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has vigorously defended the state’s actions. He refutes the federal government’s demands for access to the park, arguing that keeping the area accessible endangers migrants attempting the dangerous river crossing. Paxton’s stance, echoed by Gov. Abbott, is that the state exercises its constitutional authority to protect its territory and citizens.
The Biden administration’s response to the migrant crisis, especially its handling of border security, has been a point of significant criticism from conservative circles. The White House’s recent admission that Mexican officials, not Texas, recovered the bodies of drowned migrants further fuels the narrative of a mismanaged and ineffective federal approach to border security.
Despite the Biden administration’s demands, Texas remains firm in its position. Paxton’s response to the DHS’s cease-and-desist notice was unyielding, accusing the federal government of misstating facts and misinterpreting the law. He urged the DHS to focus on enforcing existing immigration laws rather than challenging Texas’s efforts to secure its borders.
This standoff between Texas and the federal government is emblematic of the deep divisions in the United States over immigration. As Texas continues to arrest migrants and enforce its new laws, the eyes of the nation remain fixed on Eagle Pass, where the future of U.S. border policy and state-federal relations are being contested.