Heard about this last night, I'm surprised that there hasn't been more discussion online about it. I've seen practically nothing on social media, and if there's a thread here, I missed it.
https://nypost.com/2024/01/11/news/t...ithout-notice/Texas Gov. Abbott seizes Eagle Pass border park without warning to combat migrant crisis, mayor claims
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott took control of a public park in a border city plagued by illegal immigration without warning on Wednesday, its mayor alleged Thursday.
Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas said the state seized Shelby Park, erecting fences to keep out citizens — and even federal border agents — without any notice as part of Abbott’s emergency declaration to combat the migrant crisis.
Shelby Park, which abuts the Rio Grande, has been flooded with migrants crossing into Texas via the dangerous river.
“That is not a decision that we agreed to,” Salinas said in an impassioned speech Thursday.
“This is not something that we wanted. This is not something that we asked for as a city.”
Wednesday night, fencing had already blocked off the entrances and military trucks were parked inside, video
“They will be denying access,” Salinas said. “Again, this is not the city of Eagle Pass denying access to the park. This is the state using that emergency declaration.”
The abrupt blockage has even extended to US Border Patrol agents, insiders told CBS News.
Texas National Guard units prevented the border agents from patrolling Shelby Park, which has been used in recent weeks to hold migrants in an outdoor staging area before they are transported for further processing.
“They are denying entry to Border Patrol agents to conduct our duties,” the official told the outlet, adding that they are not sure “what authority (Texas officials) have over the federal government.”
https://www.rollingstone.com/politic...ol-1234945639/Texas Just Took Its Border Battle With the U.S. Government Up a Notch
The Texas National Guard has seized control of Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, and is denying U.S. Border Patrol agents access to the area
THE TENSION BETWEEN the state of Texas and the federal government over the border escalated on Thursday when the Texas National Guard seized control of Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, denying entry to federal authorities. The seizure followed Governor Greg Abbott signing an emergency order granting the state guard “full control” of the park, over the objections of local officials.
According to two U.S. officials who spoke to CBS News, the Texas National Guard is now barring federal U.S. Border Patrol from entering the park, which runs along the bank of the Rio Grande. “They are denying entry to Border Patrol agents to conduct our duties,” one official said, questioning “what authority (Texas officials) have over the federal government.”
The Biden administration sued Texas last week over recent legislation signed by Abbott that grants local law enforcement the authority to arrest migrants and allow judges to order deportations. The administration argues that the law goes against constitutional mandates granting the federal government authority over border enforcement.
I firmly expect this will go to the courts, where Texas will back down, but it's an interesting escalation, and one I'm surprised people aren't talking about.
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