Texas is arresting illegal immigrants for trespassing in Shelby Park as the state continues to defy the Biden administration’s demands that it cede control of the park back to federal authorities.
Last week, Texas took control of Shelby Park, a 47-acre public park in Eagle Pass that has seen large influxes of illegal immigrants. Texas said it was necessary for it to control the park because federal officials were compounding the border crisis while the Biden administration has said the state has impeded Border Patrol.
Texas Department of Public Safety Spokesman Chris Olivarez announced on Wednesday that state troopers had started arresting illegal immigrants in the park.
“Under the authority of [Governor Greg Abbot’s] Border Disaster Declaration, [Texas DPS] Troopers are arresting illegal immigrants for criminal trespass at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass. Troopers are enforcing criminal trespass on single adult men & women. The State of Texas will maintain a proactive posture in curbing illegal border crossings between the ports of entry,” he posted on X.
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
On Thursday, Olivarez announced that they had arrested three more illegal immigrants, two from Azerbaijan and one from Ecuador. They had attempted to cross into the park through barbed wire Texas had set up and were arrested and jailed for criminal trespass.
The Department of Homeland Security sent a cease-and-desist letter to Texas on Sunday demanding that they cede control of Shelby Park, which the Texas National Guard took control of as part of the state’s crackdown of illegal immigration.
In response, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said that the state would not give up control of the park.
“Texas will not surrender to Biden’s destructive open-border policies. Attorney General Paxton will continue to defend Texas as it uses its constitutional authority to defend state territory, sovereignty, and citizens,” Paxton said on Wednesday, responding to the DHS letter.
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“Rather than addressing Texas’s urgent requests for protection, President Biden has authorized DHS to send a threatening letter through its lawyers. But Texas has lawyers, too, and I will continue to stand up for this State’s constitutional powers of self-defense. Instead of running to the U.S. Department of Justice in hopes of winning an injunction, you should advise your clients at DHS to do their job and follow the law,” Paxton wrote in a response letter.
The Biden administration has said it will use all legal measures to take back control of the park.