A stalemate between Texas National Guard troops and the federal government heated up on Tuesday, when the state’s military vowed it would “hold the line” in a struggle over control of a portion of the border with Mexico.
The installation of razor wire by Texas officials at a park on the banks of the Rio Grande that has witnessed a high number of illegal crossings served as the catalyst for the protracted power battle between the Lone Star state and the Biden administration. In the town of Eagle Pass, the Texas National Guard barred federal border patrol personnel from visiting the region last week, claiming they had destroyed the fortifications.
The US Border Patrol agents were granted permission to remove the razor wire on Monday by the Supreme Court, following a request for intervention from the Biden administration. However, the Texas National Guard released a scathing statement on Tuesday, promising to “protect the sovereignty of our State,” and footage of its soldiers erecting further razor wire in the disputed Eagle Pass location was captured on camera.
“The Texas Military Department continues to hold the line in Shelby Park to deter and prevent unlawful entry into the State of Texas. We remain resolute in our actions to secure our border, preserve the rule of law, and protect the sovereignty of our State,” the Texas National Guard said in a statement.
Legal challenges and severe criticism have been leveled at Texas’ management of migrant crossings, particularly at the hands of Mr. Abbott’s Operation Lone Star policies.
Recently, when Mr. Abbott signed a bill permitting immigrants to be detained for crossing the border, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Texas.
Mr. Abbott’s strict management of migrant crossings, carried out under Operation Lone Star, have been the focus of intense criticism and legal challenges. Recently, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Texas after the Republican governorn signed a bill permitting immigrants to be detained for crossing the border.
