Tragic news of the death of two migrant children and their mother transpired recently when they drowned attempting to cross the US-Mexico border. This incident has drawn further attention to the ongoing legal and humanitarian crisis at the border, particularly in Texas. It has been reported that Texas law enforcement authorities hindered US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP)’s access to the victims, a fact that led to the preventable loss of life, according to US Representative Henry Cuellar.
Cuellar, who represents a border district, stated that despite witnessing the migrants in distress, Texas state officials did not allow border patrol agents to intervene. Only on the following day were Mexican officials able to recover the bodies from the Rio Grande River. The CBP agents were reportedly forbidden from entering Shelby Park, where the incident occurred, in what Cuellar referred to as a tragedy for which the state of Texas bears responsibility.
In a recent legal maneuver, the US Department of Justice informed the US Supreme Court about the increasing obstructions of the Texas National Guard. Armed guards and vehicles have been deployed to block access to the Rio Grande, and Border Patrol agents were expressly forbidden from partaking in any “operational capacity” at Shelby Park.
These disputes shed light on an escalating conflict between the federal government and the state of Texas. A new Texas bill that would allow for the arrest of undocumented migrants and the installment of floating barriers at the border all contribute to the tension. Advocacy for federal intervention is growing stronger, with individuals like Gabrien Gregory, a former candidate for Texas House District 121, voicing concern. Gregory said on social media that the recent tragedy is a direct result of Governor Abbott’s policies and calls for immediate action from the Biden administration.
Learn more about this incident through the extensive report here
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