According to the report of a border journalist for NewsNation, Gov. Abbott’s Texas has seized riverfront property along the border at the popular border crossing location of Eagle Pass, Texas, and is now using its control of that territory to arrest all who cross the border for criminal trespass. This new policy reflects a major escalation of the border defense measures undertaken by Gov. Abbott’s Texas.
The journalist who reported on the matter is Ali Bradley, the Network Correspondent covering the southern border for NewsNation. NewsNation describes itself as “America’s source for fact-based, unbiased news for all America.”
In any case, Bradley reported on the policy in a tweet posted on the afternoon of January 11, saying, “#BREAKING The state of Texas has seized all city property along the riverfront at the border in the Eagle Pass area under governors emergency powers, including federal processing locations and equipment—This is according to multiple sources.”
Continuing, Bradley said, “All access to the property is limited to state authority only. Border Patrol will be permitted to enter the property to remove their equipment and supplies—Agents will not have access to the area unless there is a medical emergency. I am told that the state plans to start arresting all who cross for criminal trespass—This is not under the new illegal entry law #SB4– They have been arresting for criminal trespass for months.”
Renae Eze, the communications director for Gov. Abbott’s office, released a statement on the matter, saying, “Texas is holding the line at our southern border with miles of additional razor wire and anti-climb barriers to deter and repel the record-high levels of illegal immigration invited by President Biden’s reckless open border policies.”
Continuing, Eze’s statement said, “Instead of enforcing federal immigration laws, the Biden Administration allows unfettered access for Mexican cartels to smuggle people into our country. Texas will continue to deploy Texas National Guard soldiers, DPS troopers, and more barriers, utilizing every tool and strategy to respond to President Biden’s ongoing border crisis.”
The Mayor of Eagle Pass, Rolando Salinas, appeared to confirm at least some of the report in a video posted to Facebook on January 11. In the video, Salinas said that the Texas Department of Public Safety had taken over a park along the border in Eagle Pass, Shelby Park, which sits along the banks of the Rio Grande. Salinas said the DPS officials took “full control” of the park and planned to do so for an indefinite period of time because Gov. Greg Abbott resigned an emergency declaration originally issued in 2021.
In the video, Salinas explained that the operation is meant to prevent illegal border crossings. He also said that the operation is not one he agrees with, saying, “That is not a decision that we agreed to. This is not something that we wanted. This is not something that we asked for as a city.”
In a recent statement on border security, Gov. Abbott said, “Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard continue to work together to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal activity between ports of entry. Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 494,400 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 38,100 criminal arrests, with more than 34,600 felony charges. In the fight against the fentanyl crisis, Texas law enforcement has seized over 453 million lethal doses of fentanyl during this border mission.”
Featured image credit: Gov. Greg Abbott Office
Continue reading this news story: BREAKING: Texas Seizes Riverfront Border Crossing Property to Defend Border, “plans to start arresting all who cross for criminal trespass”
The journalist who reported on the matter is Ali Bradley, the Network Correspondent covering the southern border for NewsNation. NewsNation describes itself as “America’s source for fact-based, unbiased news for all America.”
In any case, Bradley reported on the policy in a tweet posted on the afternoon of January 11, saying, “#BREAKING The state of Texas has seized all city property along the riverfront at the border in the Eagle Pass area under governors emergency powers, including federal processing locations and equipment—This is according to multiple sources.”
Continuing, Bradley said, “All access to the property is limited to state authority only. Border Patrol will be permitted to enter the property to remove their equipment and supplies—Agents will not have access to the area unless there is a medical emergency. I am told that the state plans to start arresting all who cross for criminal trespass—This is not under the new illegal entry law #SB4– They have been arresting for criminal trespass for months.”
Renae Eze, the communications director for Gov. Abbott’s office, released a statement on the matter, saying, “Texas is holding the line at our southern border with miles of additional razor wire and anti-climb barriers to deter and repel the record-high levels of illegal immigration invited by President Biden’s reckless open border policies.”
Continuing, Eze’s statement said, “Instead of enforcing federal immigration laws, the Biden Administration allows unfettered access for Mexican cartels to smuggle people into our country. Texas will continue to deploy Texas National Guard soldiers, DPS troopers, and more barriers, utilizing every tool and strategy to respond to President Biden’s ongoing border crisis.”
The Mayor of Eagle Pass, Rolando Salinas, appeared to confirm at least some of the report in a video posted to Facebook on January 11. In the video, Salinas said that the Texas Department of Public Safety had taken over a park along the border in Eagle Pass, Shelby Park, which sits along the banks of the Rio Grande. Salinas said the DPS officials took “full control” of the park and planned to do so for an indefinite period of time because Gov. Greg Abbott resigned an emergency declaration originally issued in 2021.
In the video, Salinas explained that the operation is meant to prevent illegal border crossings. He also said that the operation is not one he agrees with, saying, “That is not a decision that we agreed to. This is not something that we wanted. This is not something that we asked for as a city.”
In a recent statement on border security, Gov. Abbott said, “Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard continue to work together to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal activity between ports of entry. Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 494,400 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 38,100 criminal arrests, with more than 34,600 felony charges. In the fight against the fentanyl crisis, Texas law enforcement has seized over 453 million lethal doses of fentanyl during this border mission.”
Featured image credit: Gov. Greg Abbott Office
Continue reading this news story: BREAKING: Texas Seizes Riverfront Border Crossing Property to Defend Border, “plans to start arresting all who cross for criminal trespass”
