State authorities at the Texas-Mexico border are under fire for allegedly obstructing Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents from rescuing three drowning migrants in the Rio Grande on Friday. This incident marks the latest chapter in the months-long border battle between the federal and Texas governments over jurisdiction.
The incident has further fueled an ongoing legal clash between the Lone Star State and the federal government.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that the Texas National Guard had “not granted access” to Border Patrol agents seeking to save the distressed migrants.
Dangerous, inhumane policies
Expressing deep concern, DHS condemned the actions of Texas Governor‘s policies, deeming them “cruel, dangerous, and inhumane.”
The federal agency underscored the state’s blatant disregard for federal authority over immigration, emphasizing the potential risks associated with such measures.
Tragedy: Is state responsible?
Tragically, the bodies of the three drowned migrants—a woman and two children—were recovered by Mexican authorities on Friday evening, amplifying the gravity of the situation.
Representative Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), who first reported the deaths, placed responsibility squarely on the state, declaring the incident a “tragedy.”
Ongoing border battle
The Department of Justice, in a filing just hours before the incident, argued that blocking federal access to the park could endanger migrants.
In response to the allegations, the Texas Military Department (TMD) released a statement asserting that one of its units had searched the river after CBP alerted them.
However, the statement did not address the federal government’s claims of Texas authorities physically barring CBP agents from entering the park.
The Department of Justice has escalated the matter, recently requesting the Supreme Court’s intervention to rule on the contentious disagreement.
The unfolding events at the Texas-Mexico border underscore the complex and high-stakes nature of the ongoing struggle between state and federal authorities.
Cover Photo: Unsplash