Texas Governor Abbott has had it with Biden’s dereliction of duty. Now he’s taking matters into his own hands.
And Greg Abbott took an unprecedented move against Biden that has Democrats red with rage.
In the midst of the state’s protracted fight with the Biden administration over the border issue, the Texas National Guard has taken control of a public park where illegal immigrants have poured across the border.
Texas began limiting federal agents’ access to Shelby Park in Eagle Pass this week, claiming control because federal immigration officials “perpetuate illegal crossings.”
The measure comes as the Biden administration attempts to remove barbed wire installed in the park by Texas to discourage crossings.
“The Texas National Guard has maintained a presence with security points and temporary barrier in Shelby Park since 2021. 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 Texas Military Department said in a statement.
According to Fox News reporter Bill Melugin, Texas installed razor wire and walls at the park “to block the area off from the public and federal government.”
Republican Governor Greg Abbott said the measures were motivated by President Joe Biden’s management of the border, and that his state would make it plain to caravans of foreign nationals heading to the United States that Texas would be tough to enter.
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
“Texas is holding the line at our southern border with miles of additional razor wire and anti-climb barriers to deter and repel the record-high levels of illegal immigration invited by President Biden’s reckless open border policies,” spokeswoman Renea Eze said.
“Instead of enforcing federal immigration laws, the Biden administration allows unfettered access for Mexican cartels to smuggle people into our country.”
In a legal complaint, the Department of Homeland Security stated that Texas began restricting entry to the park on Wednesday.
The brief requests that the Supreme Court decide against Texas immediately and grant the federal government complete power over Shelby Park.
“Beginning around 8:00 p.m., Central Time, on January 10, 2024, Border Patrol was denied access to an approximately 2.5 mile stretch of border, inclusive of Shelby Park and stretching south.”
“Texas National Guard (TNG) established fencing and concertina wire, and is blocking access to Shelby Park and blocking entrances through federally owned and maintained border barriers with armed soldiers,” the filing, part of the DHS lawsuit against Texas over the barbed wire, said.
Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas Jr. said he was surprised by the Texas action.
“So, right now, there’s military personnel and they put gates in Shelby Park blocking access from the public into the park that belongs to the city,” he said.
“The state, through Gov. Greg Abbott’s emergency declaration, has custody of the park.”
It’s about time someone did something.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
