Last week, the state of Texas took control of a 47-acre municipal park in Eagle Pass, where hordes of illegal aliens have flowed to the mainland in recent months and years. At the time, the state expelled federal border agents who had been camping there, citing the Biden administration's apparent reluctance to enforce immigration laws and secure the border.
The Biden administration was furious at the Lone Star State's efforts to shore up U.S. sovereignty. The Department of Homeland Security on Sunday sent a strongly worded cease-and-desist letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, ordering Texas Caverns and Grants federal officials to “protect the U.S.-Mexico border in and around the Shelby Park area. demanded complete access to the
Paxton replied:
Letter of January 17th In effect, it is telling the Biden administration to pound sand.
Address vulnerabilities
Texas seized Shelby Park on January 10 under Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's state of emergency declaration to stop the flow of illegal immigrants into the state. The park borders a 4.5-mile stretch of the busy Rio Grande River, where the state's floating barriers were installed to deter migrants from crossing the river.
The Texas National Guard set up a fence around the park and closed off the entrance to the river with the help of a border wall and soldiers. The state has allowed access and entry to boat ramps within the park for U.S. Border Patrol agents responding to medical emergencies, but otherwise prohibits access and entry for federal agents. It seems like it was.
“The State of Texas has the legal authority to control access to and from any geographic location within the State of Texas, and that authority is asserted to maintain operational control with respect to the Eagle Pass, Texas Park. .”
Said Abbott.
“Texas is adding miles of additional razor miles to deter and repel the record levels of illegal immigration brought on by President Biden's reckless open border policies,” Abbott spokeswoman Renae Eze said in a statement. “We are maintaining our southern border with wire and anti-climb fencing.” . ”
Blaze News previously reported that more than 300,000 illegal aliens were smuggled into the United States across the southern border in December, a record high for the month. it is,
total The number of infections this year has exceeded 800,000, and this does not include recent border crossings that went unreported.
The number of illegal aliens who entered the United States in fiscal years 2023, 2022, and 2021 was 2.47 million, 2.37 million, and 1.73 million, respectively.
Biden administration slams
White House press secretary Angelo Fernandez Hernandez denounced the park occupation as an “extreme” political stunt aimed at “demonizing and dehumanizing” people.
report Bloomberg.
“Governor Abbott has repeatedly proven that he is not interested in solutions, only in politicizing the border,” Hernandez wrote.
While White House officials were excited, DHS general counsel Jonathan Meyer warned:
letter Texas sued Paxton on Jan. 14, saying it had expelled U.S. Border Patrol agents from the park and denied them access after the seizure.
After suggesting that DHS was “fully committed to border security,” Meyer said the Lone Star State's actions were “in conflict with the Border Patrol's powers and duties under federal law and under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution.” “Texas' actions are also unfairly aimed at border security.” Regulate the federal government. ”
In addition to accusing Texas of ignoring federal law, Meyer also blamed the state for the recent drowning deaths of three illegal aliens. The migrants may have died while struggling to enter the country through the Shelby Park area and may have been rescued by Border Patrol agents following interference from Texas authorities, the Department of Homeland Security's general counsel said in a letter. , he hinted.
“Texas has failed to provide access to the border even when there is an immediate danger to life and safety,” Meyer wrote.
DHS issued the following ultimatum: “If not confirmed by the end of January 17, 2024, the State of Texas will block Border Patrol access in and around the Shelby Park area and will take any action against entry.” “Cease and desist efforts to remove barriers'' with respect to the U.S.-Mexico border, refer this matter to the Department of Justice for appropriate action and any available resources to restore Border Patrol access to the border. We will consider all other options.”
Texas doesn't blink
Paxton didn't mince words in his response.
obtained Daily Caller: “Your letter misrepresents both the facts and the law demanding that Texas surrender to President Biden's open borders policy. The facts and the law are on Texas' side, so the state I will continue to use my constitutional authority to protect Texas territory, and I will continue to defend these lawful efforts in court.”
The Lone Star State's attorney general stressed that DHS should “stop wasting scarce time and resources prosecuting Texas and start enforcing the immigration laws Congress has already established.”
In his letter, Mr. Paxton questioned several key claims made in the DHS letter, noting:
- Texas is not blocking life-saving care for illegal aliens and continues to allow access for U.S. Border Patrol agents “in response to medical emergencies.”
- Contrary to Meyer's assertion that DHS is “committed to 'providing emergency assistance to individuals in need,'” DHS waived such obligations in 2023, requiring the Texas Department of Public Safety to , federal officials allegedly notified the administration that they would not be present. Please help unless Texas asks for help. ”
- The drowning migrants drowned on the Mexican side of the river, and U.S. federal agents who were present as the incident unfolded “didn't even have a boat and didn't request entry due to a medical emergency.”
- He added that the security threats migrants face are a product of the Biden administration's policies, not Texas' border defenses, and that “no one will drown on the bridge.”and that
- According to 8 USC § 1357(a)(3), U.S. Border Patrol's lawful, warrantless entry into border areas is “solely for the purpose of patrolling the border.” prevent This is illegal entry of foreigners. ”
Paxton concluded his letter by saying, “President Biden has authorized DHS to send threatening letters through attorneys. However, Texas also has attorneys and I will continue to defend our state's constitutional right to self-defense.” I intend to do so.'' The U.S. Department of Justice should advise DHS clients to do their jobs and follow the law because they want to win an injunction. ”
Within hours of DHS receiving Paxton's defiant message, the Biden administration dealt another blow when it learned that the Lone Star State's controversial floating wall was going nowhere.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has reversed a December order that required Texas to move a floating barrier on the Rio Grande.
report Associated Press.
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