President Joe Biden’s administration has demanded that Texas remove obstructions at the border and allow federal Border Patrol agents to access Shelby Park in Eagle Pass by Friday.
On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security sent a letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ordering the state to grant the federal government access to Shelby Park, which is located on the southern border by the Rio Grande.
“The State has alleged that Shelby Park is open to the public, but we do not believe this statement is accurate,” Homeland Security General Counsel Jonathan Meyer wrote. “To our knowledge, Texas has only permitted access to Shelby Park by allowing public entry for a memorial, the media, and use of the golf course adjacent to Shelby Park, all while continuing to restrict U.S. Border Patrol’s access to the park. Please clarify the scope of access Texas permits to the public.”
Meyer claimed that the federal government obtained “permanent real estate interests” in Eagle Pass, Texas, in 2008 for the construction and maintenance of barriers located in the Shelby Park region.
“Because the Department owns property rights to the areas depicted on the attached map, we demand that you immediately remove any and all obstructions on it, which include the access points into Shelby Park,” Meyer wrote.
The Department of Homeland Security gave Texas until Friday to respond to the demands of the Biden administration.
On Thursday, Paxton told Fox News that Texas is not planning to adhere to the Biden administration’s order to provide Border Patrol agents with access to the border park by Friday’s deadline.
Paxton has also made it clear that he stands in complete agreement with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who has declared that Texas will continue to install razor wire at the border despite the Supreme Court ruling Monday that the Biden administration could remove the razor wire.
READ MORE: Pic: Gov. Abbott slams Biden as ‘lawless’ over border, says Texas can defend itself
“I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with @GovAbbott to defend Texas. As your Attorney General, I stand ready to bringing any legal means necessary to defend Texas,” Paxton tweeted. “We will push back against this out of control Federal Government to defend our state sovereignty.”
While Texas seemingly does not intend to act in accordance with the demands of the Biden administration by Friday’s deadline, the Department of Homeland Security has continued to place pressure on Texas to comply with its demands.
“Rather than helping to reduce irregular migration, the State of Texas has only made it harder for frontline personnel to do their jobs and to apply consequences under the law,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told Fox News. “We can enforce our laws and administer them safely, humanely, and in an orderly way.”
