Texas officials have increased security measures at Shelby Park in an attempt to prevent additional migrants from crossing into the United States.
In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, Fox News Channel’s National Correspondent Matt Finn showed additional razor wire and fencing being installed at the park in Eagle Pass. This comes a week after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) ordered the National Guard to take control of the park.
The installation of additional security measures came after Texas responded to a letter issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Jan 14. demanding that Texas turn the park over to the federal government by the end of the day on Wednesday, according to CNN.
In its letter, the Biden Administration demanded that Texas stop preventing U.S. Border Patrol officials from being able to access the 2.5 miles of the park located along the U.S.-Mexico border, labeling Texas’ actions as being unconstitutional.
“Not only did Texas defy the Biden admin’s deadline to open Shelby Park to the feds – right now it is installing even more razor wire and fencing,” Finn wrote in his post.
Not only did Texas defy the Biden admin’s deadline to open Shelby Park to the feds — right now it is installing even more razor wire and fencing. pic.twitter.com/ZLoB299ZOE
— Matt Finn (@MattFinnFNC) January 18, 2024
On Wednesday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a letter to Jonathan Meyer, general counsel for the DHS, informing him that Texas would “continue utilizing its constitutional authority to defend” its state.
“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) should stop wasting scarce time and resources suing Texas, and start enforcing the immigration laws Congress already has on the books,” Paxton wrote.
On Saturday, Texas officials came under fire from the DHS and the White House for refusing to allow U.S. Border Patrol agents to provide medical care to three migrants, a woman and two children, who had drowned near the park, according to Fox News.
However, it was later revealed in a court filing that the Department of Justice had been informed by Mexican officials that the three migrants had drowned an hour earlier at 8 p.m. and before Border Patrol agents requested access to the park, according to the outlet.