Tensions between federal officials and Texas are rising as the influx of migrants continues to overwhelm authorities at the border between the United States and Mexico.
Criminal Trespass Arrest
After seizing control of the region at the US-Mexico border last week, Texas officials detained migrants in Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, late Wednesday evening, January 17, and charged them with criminal trespassing. This is the first arrest of migrants in this situation, according to an official.
Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Chris Olivarez used social media to announce the arrests, as reported by CNN. He also shared videos on X (formerly Twitter) showing how the authorities handcuff and remove the migrants from the scene. "The State of #Texas will maintain a proactive posture in curbing illegal border crossings between the ports of entry," he said on X.
According to Olivarez, the US Border Patrol was entrusted with the care of migrant families and children, while others, including adults, were brought into state custody.
After being detained for illegal trespassing, migrants are charged by the state and then turned over to US Border Patrol agents, said Olivarez. The state was given authorization to conduct arrests by the proprietor at Shelby Park and private areas, according to him.
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
Ongoing Migrant Crisis
Tensions are rising between federal authorities and Texas officials due to the continuing influx of migrants at the US-Mexico border, which has led to the arrests.
In a letter acquired exclusively by CNN over the weekend from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Biden administration notified state authorities that they had until Wednesday at the latest to cease obstructing the entrance of the US Border Patrol to a 2.5-mile section of the US-Mexico border.
Among the areas that have been blocked off is the spot where last week a mother and her two young children died in the Rio Grande at Shelby Park. The fatalities have deepened the gap between federal and Texas authorities over the migrant issues and the allocation of jurisdiction in the Rio Grande region.
State measures have hampered operations and are unlawful, according to DHS's letter to Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton of Texas. Near the park where state officials have constructed fences to keep away federal agents, the letter also mentioned the deaths, which are among the latest in the ongoing migrant crisis.
In the letter, the DHS states that unless Texas confirms that it will "cease and desist" its efforts from trying to obstruct Border Patrol's access in and around the Shelby Park area and remove all obstacles to access to the US-Mexico border, it will refer the matter to the Justice Department for appropriate action.
