Greg Abbott Orders Texas National Guard to Block Federal Border Patrol Operations

Abbott is spending billions of taxpayer dollars to weaken border security and cause chaos.

In a move causing widespread alarm and outrage, Governor Greg Abbott’s directive led the Texas National Guard to seize Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, igniting a fiery conflict with the federal government. This aggressive action, which Abbott claims is to manage border crossings and immigration, represents a sharp escalation in the state’s already contentious relationship with the US Border Patrol and the federal administration.

Shelby Park.

Shelby Park was used in recent months by the Border Patrol as a staging area to process the overflow of migrants. Under federal law, Border Patrol has a legal responsibility to process migrants on US soil and determine whether to detain them, transfer them to another agency, deport them, or release them into the country, pending a court hearing.

The Texas National Guard has barricaded a crucial 2.5-mile stretch along the Rio Grande, including Shelby Park. Abbott has ordered the armed National Guard to deny Border Patrol entry. This brazen action is not just a mere interference in federal operations; it’s a blatant disregard for the rule of law and established federal jurisdiction.

See the video here.

This situation has spiraled into a full-blown federal-state standoff. Abbott, under the guise of addressing a so-called “border crisis,” has overreached his powers, violating the sanctity of federal jurisdiction. This is a dangerous precedent that undermines the foundational principles of federal-state relations.

The consequences of this blockade are severe and far-reaching.

The forced rerouting of migrant processing to the side of a highway is nothing short of a humanitarian crisis in the making. It endangers the lives of both migrants and Border Patrol agents. More so, the inability to conduct river patrols significantly compromises the safety and well-being of those distressed.

The public outcry and condemnation of this action are justified. Abbott’s militaristic approach has jeopardized human lives. This is not about securing borders; it’s about a reckless display of power that has no place in a democratic society.

Early this morning, the Department of Homeland Security filed a new lawsuit against Texas.

The Department of Homeland Security’s filing with the Supreme Court underscores the gravity of this situation. You can read the entire lawsuit here.

The Department of Homeland Security claims that the situation has significantly changed since its last filing due to Abbott’s takeover of Shelby Park. They argue that Texas’s actions are creating operational challenges for Border Patrol, including restricting access to the Rio Grande River via boat ramps and blocking views for surveillance of border activities. This also hampers the Border Patrol’s ability to monitor the border and respond to emergencies, such as migrants drowning or suffering from heat exhaustion.

This is shaping up to be the biggest battle between states and the federal government since desegregation. This situation is not just a dispute over border policy; it’s an affront to the very principles of cooperative federalism.

Today, Abbott doubles down on his language regarding shooting and killing refugees.

At a press conference regarding the incoming weather, Abbott was asked about his recent comment about shooting migrants. Here’s the exchange:

Source: Patrick Svitek

The Governor still sounds like he wants to shoot people. He did not remark in the original interview that it was not appropriate or illegal. He said that he didn’t shoot and kill migrants because he didn’t want to be charged with murder. Abbott is completely unserious and does not care about solving migration issues.

The only way to stop Abbott’s agenda at this point is to flip the Texas House and bring everything he and Texas Republicans are doing to a screeching halt. Fucking vote.

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