Residents of Eagle Pass were shocked to discover that state authorities had taken control of Shelby Park in Eagle Pass and sealed it off behind temporary fences, arresting migrants for violating state trespassing laws. Shelby Park lies along the Rio Grande and features sports fields, walking trails and a public boat ramp – amenities which the state now controls.
Mayor Salinas’s video
Eagle Pass, Texas stands at the heart of Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s efforts to curb illegal border crossings, yet locals claim the state is unilaterally closing a public park without their consent, leading to increased tensions within a city that experienced an unprecedented migration surge last month that forced an official train crossing closure and overwhelmed shelters.
Salinas signed an affidavit in June declaring Shelby Park to be private property, giving DPS authority to close down public areas, line riverbanks with shipping containers and razor wire, arrest migrants on state criminal trespassing charges, use military vehicles on the property and use other means necessary to enforce lawful access.
The mayor expressed disappointment in the state’s actions and asked for more dialogue between DPS and locals. Due to DPS taking control of the park, several festivals and events planned for spring — including one during total solar eclipse — may need to be cancelled as a result of their takeover by DPS.
Attorney General Ken Paxton’s statement
Paxton supports “the constitutional and legal authority of the state to enforce its laws pertaining to immigration, including those related to citizenship.” However, according to his spokesperson he does not think the state has the power to take control of public property.
Shelby Park has been used by the federal government as an outdoor staging area to process migrants who enter illegally, according to locals. Unfortunately, since Texas National Guard took control of this facility they have been denied access.
An Eagle Pass Border Patrol official filed an affidavit to the Supreme Court stating that state’s actions are “illegal.” Seizures reduced his agents’ surveillance capacity and created safety hazards both for them as well as migrants in distress.
Paxton’s impeachment trial began this week and is expected to last between two and four weeks. He stands accused of violating state law and the oaths of office by conspiring with Austin real estate investor Nate Paul – an ally and campaign donor – to unlawfully undermine political opponents of Paxton.
U.S. Border Patrol’s response
As the state’s border-hardening measures have come into force, migrant crossings in Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras have diminished, although concertina wire layers, buoy barriers in Rio Grande, and other measures have not prevented migrants from trying to gain passage northwards.
NewsNation heard from one local smuggler who told NewsNation that new barriers will force more migrants to use his services, thus leading to increased earnings for him and other smugglers in town.
But most residents, both liberal and conservative alike, agree on one thing: They want a secure border despite any disagreement with Abbott’s tactics; and humane treatment of migrants. Some residents have begun questioning whether state actions are legal as immigration enforcement falls under federal jurisdiction rather than being administered locally by states such as Eagle Pass; thus creating the potential for legal battles over this issue locally and elsewhere; this battle could erupt over an emergency declaration issued by Abbott as it stands now.
Legal experts’ reactions
Even under these trying circumstances, some residents support their state’s actions to combat illegal immigration. “Without strong partnerships between Mexico and California, it would be impossible to secure our border and end the flow of asylum-seekers from abroad,” stated mayor Rolando Salinas.
He attributes Mexico’s renewed commitment to enforcement as the reason for a decrease in Eagle Pass border crossings this week; however, more needs to be done.
Salinas and the city council had agreed to let DPS declare Shelby Park private property under a disaster declaration, enabling them to arrest migrants who trespass on its grounds, but due to backlash from residents they revoked that agreement.
As reported by WOLA, a migrant smuggler from Piedras Negras told us that Gov. Abbott’s border hardening has actually been beneficial to business because more migrants have used his services now that crossing is more dangerous and harder – more people are dying trying to cross the river due to buoy walls and concertina wire making the journey riskier – with prices expected to go even higher due to state takeover of city land.
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