The Texas National Guard has seized control of a public park located near the southern border between the United States and Mexico, marking a new step in the state’s ongoing fight with the Biden administration over border policies.
According to Bill Melugin, a Fox News reporter, the Texas Military Department confirmed that the National Guard took control of Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, this week and began restricting federal officials from accessing the park. The Texas Military Department claimed federal immigration authorities “perpetuate illegal crossings” at the southern border.
Melguin reported that Texas set up fences and razor wire at Shelby Park to “block the area off from the public and federal government.” The Texas National Guard’s move comes as the Biden administration has engaged in efforts to remove the state’s barbed wire in the area that was put up to reduce illegal border crossings.
“The Texas National Guard has maintained a presence with security points and temporary barrier in Shelby Park since 2021,” the Texas Military Department stated. “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.”
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Sharing Melugin’s tweet on social media, Republican Governor Greg Abbott explained that the Texas National Guard’s seizure of the border park comes as “caravans of migrants” are traveling through Mexico toward the southern border. Abbot said the state is “making clear” that Texas will be a “tough place” for illegal immigrants to enter.
“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,” Renea Eze, a spokesperson for the governor, said in a statement obtained by Fox News. “Instead of enforcing federal immigration laws, the Biden administration allows unfettered access for Mexican cartels to smuggle people into our country.”
In a legal filing by the Department of Homeland Security, the Biden administration noted that Texas started restricting federal officials’ access to Shelby Park on Wednesday. The Department of Homeland Security requested that the Supreme Court issue a ruling against the state and grant full authority over the border park to federal officials.
