A surge in illegal border crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border has resulted in a standoff between Texas and the federal government over jurisdiction and how to address the crisis.
On Friday, Mexican officials notified Border Patrol of two migrants in distress on the U.S. side of the river near Shelby Park boat ramp around 9 p.m., resulting in three drowning deaths: a woman and two children from Mexico.
The incident has highlighted tensions between Texas and federal authorities over jurisdiction, with state officials blocking Border Patrol's access to a 2.5-mile stretch of the border near Eagle Pass, including Shelby Park. The area was fenced off by Texas authorities using gates and razor wire.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been involved in multiple legal battles with the Department of Justice (DOJ) over his migrant deterrent tactics, which include installing razor wire along parts of the southern border and a circular saw floating barrier in the Rio Grande river. The Biden administration has criticized these methods as dangerous and cruel.
In response to recent Supreme Court rulings allowing U.S. Border Patrol agents to temporarily remove razor wire installed by Texas officials, Governor Abbott issued statements declaring Texas' right to self-defense and expressing that the issue is not over.
The Houston Chronicle, Texas' largest newspaper, has criticized Governor Abbott for defying the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on razor wire at the border and compared him to former Alabama Governor George Wallace during the civil rights movement.
Abbott remains firm in his stance against federal intervention in Texas border control efforts, citing constitutional authority granted to states for self-defense amidst an invasion.
