Days after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott complained that Texas can't shoot immigrants trying to illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border, three immigrants — a woman and two children — drowned in the Rio Grande River, and the Texas National Guard “physically interdicted” the US Border Patrol from trying to save them.
Last week, the Texas National Guard took over Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, after Abbott granted them “full control” of the park without permission from local officials. Since then, the state guard has barred federal authorities from entering the area next to the border.
“Tragically, a woman and two children drowned last night in the Shelby Park area of Eagle Pass, which was managed by the State of Texas earlier this week,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement Saturday. “Responding to a distress call from the government of Mexico, Border Patrol agents were physically barred by Texas officials from entering the area.”
Mexican authorities recovered the migrants' bodies early Saturday. Representative Henry Cuellar said that, according to Mexican sources, a mother drowned with her 8-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son. “This is a tragedy and the state bears responsibility,” said the Texas Democrat in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Per Cuellar, upon learning that “six migrants were in danger” while trying to cross the Rio Grande, the Border Patrol attempted to contact the Texas Department of the Army, the Texas National Guard and the Texas Department of Public Safety by phone, but “they did not make it”. Border Patrol agents then made personal contact with members of the Texas Military Department.
“The soldiers of the Texas Military Department said they would not sponsor [Border Patrol] access to immigrants — even in an emergency — and that they would send a soldier to investigate the situation,” Cuellar wrote.
Texas Military Dept issued its own statement about the incident and claimed that the state guard was unable to locate the drowned migrants. “TMD had a unit near the boat ramp and was actively searching the river with lights and night vision goggles. No migrants were observed,” the announcement states. “At approximately 9:45 p.m., TMD observed a group of Mexican authorities responding to an incident on the Mexican side of the river bank. TMD reported its observations to the Border Patrol and confirmed that Mexican authorities did not require additional assistance. At that time, TMD ceased prospecting operations.”
The White House is “gathering information about the circumstances of these tragic deaths,” a spokesman said in a statement.
“One thing is clear: Governor Abbott's political stunts are cruel, inhumane and dangerous,” the government spokesman said. “The US Border Patrol must have access to the border to enforce our laws.”
The Justice Department also responded to the situation at Eagle Pass, asking the Supreme Court on Friday to step in and force the Texas National Guard to allow the Border Patrol to regain access to the 2.5-mile stretch of border.
In response to the influx of migrants across the border, Abbott has engaged in cruel stunts, including busing migrants to Democratic-led areas such as Washington, Los Angeles and New York. It also has thrown away immigrants by charter plane to Chicago. New York's shelter system has been overwhelmed at times by immigrants in need of homes because of Abbott's actions.
Shortly after the State Guard occupied the area, Abbott posted on X“We're making it clear that Texas is going to be a tough place to cross.”
from our partners at https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/texas-physically-barred-border-patrol-migrants-drowned-1234946664/