As Breaking Digest previously reported, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed SB 4 earlier this month, granting state and local law enforcement the authority to arrest, detain, and prosecute illegal aliens. Additionally, it empowers judges to issue de facto deportation orders, enabling the state to repatriate those who have been invited to enter illegally by the Biden regime.
In response, Biden’s Department of “Justice” threatened to sue Texas if they implemented SB 4.
On January 14th, the Department of Homeland Security issued a cease-and-desist letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, instructing the Texas Military Department to halt its “enhanced border security measures in Eagle Pass’s Shelby Park.” DHS demanded compliance by Wednesday, January 17th.
As Breaking Digest previously reported, the Texas National Guard took control of the park last week, arguing that Border Patrol agents are encouraging illegal immigration.
Texas has refused to comply with Biden’s orders to vacate the area or allow Border Patrol back in the area by the end of Wednesday.
Late Wednesday evening, Texas authorities arrested illegals at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas. These individuals were charged with criminal trespassing, signifying the first arrests of illegal aliens since the state assumed control of the area along the US-Mexico border last week.
So interesting little video here…
— SaltyGoat (@SaltyGoat17) January 17, 2024
Department of Homeland Security has ORDERED Texas to vacate Eagle Pass and let Border Patrol back in after they were ejected… OR ELSE!!
Well… some of y'all not from Texas may or may not know this, but THIS isn't the first time a corrupt… pic.twitter.com/bOmqwFZFQN
Lieutenant Chris Olivarez from the Texas Department of Public Safety shared news of the arrests on his official X account, showing the illegals being detained by authorities. The detainees include single adult males and females.
Under the authority of Gov. @GregAbbott_TX’s Border Disaster Declaration, @TxDPS Troopers are arresting illegal immigrants for criminal trespass at #ShelbyPark in Eagle Pass. Troopers are enforcing criminal trespass on single adult men & women. The State of #Texas will maintain a proactive posture in curbing illegal border crossings between the ports of entry.
Under the authority of Gov. @GregAbbott_TX’s Border Disaster Declaration, @TxDPS Troopers are arresting illegal immigrants for criminal trespass at #ShelbyPark in Eagle Pass. Troopers are enforcing criminal trespass on single adult men & women. The State of #Texas will maintain a… pic.twitter.com/EuRhYDNYLH
— Chris Olivarez (@LtChrisOlivarez) January 18, 2024
Oilvarez further stated that illegals arrested for criminal trespassing will initially address the state charges before being handed over to US Border Patrol officials.
Breitbart reported:
The state appears to be standing firm as a Biden administration deadline of “the end of the day” for the state to remove the gates and allow unimpeded access to the Border Patrol approaches. General Counsel Jonathan Meyer, on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security, communicated it to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a letter on January 10.
As reported by Breitbart Texas, the DHS letter to Paxton was sent in response to the seizure of Shelby Park a few days earlier under a Texas statute for law enforcement and disaster relief purposes by Abbott in response to the border crisis impacting his state. The DHS letter to Paxton cited the statutory authority granted to Border Patrol agents to patrol private lands within 25 miles of the border without a warrant. The letter warned the state was impeding the federal agents with the seizure of the property and the conditions placed upon the Border Patrol for entry.
In addition, the DHS letter asserts the placement of the temporary gates at the entrance of the park, put in place by state authorities, is on federal land. The federal government acquired the land in question after an intense legal battle with the City of Eagle Pass over the right to erect a border fence as required by the Secure Fence Act of 2006.
Although tensions continue to build between the State of Texas and the Biden administration over the use and access of the park by the Border Patrol, the tensions appear to be much less visible at the park itself. Migrant crossings had reduced to a near trickle in the area compared to December when a record-breaking 71,000 migrants crossed the Rio Grande into the Del Rio Border Patrol Sector — most choosing to cross in Eagle Pass.
According to a source within CBP, not authorized to speak to the media, migrant apprehensions have dropped to roughly 500 per day in Eagle Pass, down from more than 2,000 per day in late December.
The source told Breitbart Texas, “The battle is not between the law enforcement agents on the ground here, it’s between Austin and Washington, D.C., we just respond to different authorities who have much different view on border policies. Until that changes, we’re stuck in the middle.”
