In a bold move this week, the Lone Star State fortified sections of its southern border, impeding Border Patrol access, according to a recent court filing. As tensions over migration surge between Texas Governor Greg Abbott and President Joe Biden, the conflict has reached a new level.
The Texas National Guard strategically placed concertina wire and fencing along a segment of the border near Eagle Pass, effectively cutting off U.S. Border Patrol’s entry to a crucial city park with a vital boat ramp leading to the Rio Grande. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) highlighted these developments in a filing presented to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Robert Danley, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official, underscored in the filing the critical role of the boat ramp, stating that its absence left agents without a means to monitor the area and respond effectively to migrants in potential distress.
This clash is emblematic of the broader standoff between the Biden administration and Governor Abbott regarding the escalating number of migrants unlawfully crossing the border since Biden assumed office in 2021. Texas, breaking from the traditional federal jurisdiction over border controls, has been increasingly assertive in implementing its own measures.
Governor Abbott, in a press conference on Friday, emphasized Texas’s legal authority over entry points within the state, citing the need for operational control over Shelby Park in Eagle Pass. Since 2021, the Texas National Guard has maintained a presence and temporary barriers in the park, with the current actions aimed at deterring future illegal crossings.
Abbott has previously ordered the installation of razor wire and floating buoys in the Rio Grande, sparking a legal battle with the Biden administration. However, White House spokesperson Angelo Fernandez Hernandez condemned these measures as reckless and politically motivated, accusing Abbott of hindering Border Patrol operations.
In response, the Biden administration approached the Supreme Court, seeking permission for Border Patrol agents to cut or remove the contested wire fencing, which Texas argues is necessary to prevent illegal crossings. The Supreme Court is yet to rule on the administration’s request to pause a lower court’s decision that temporarily halted federal agents from tampering with the fencing during ongoing litigation.
Despite recent data indicating a decline in migrant arrests at the border, following a peak of over 10,000 per day in mid-December, the situation remains dynamic. While Mexico has intensified enforcement efforts, a senior U.S. official warned earlier this month that historical patterns suggest migrant crossings typically decrease around Christmas but could surge again in the coming weeks.
This report brings to light the ongoing struggle at the Texas-Mexico border, where political and legal battles unfold against the backdrop of a complex migration landscape.
