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*#REDIRECT [[Operation Lone Star#Eagle Pass park standoff]]▼
{{Short description|2024 border incident in Texas}}
{{pp-protected|small=yes}}
{{Rcat shell|
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
|{{R partoffrom merge|1= [[Operation Lone Star]]}}▼
{{Infobox civil conflict
▲| partof = [[Operation Lone Star]]
| image = Maverick County EaglePass.svg
| caption = Location of [[Eagle Pass, Texas]], within [[Maverick County, Texas|Maverick County]]
| date = {{start date|2024|1|11}} – present<br>({{age in days|2024|1|11}} days)
| place = [[Shelby Park (Eagle Pass)|Shelby Park]], [[Eagle Pass, Texas|Eagle Pass]], Texas, U.S.
| coordinates = {{coord|28.7080|-100.5092|dim:30_region:US-WI_type:event|display=inline,title}} <!--28.707995368963484, -100.50915785798925-->
| causes = [[Political polarization in the United States]]; [[Mexico–United States border crisis]]
| status = Ongoing
| side1 = {{flagicon|United States}} [[Federal government of the United States|Federal government]]<br> [[United States Department of Homeland Security|Department of Homeland Security]]<br> [[United States Border Patrol|Border Patrol]]
| side2 = {{flagicon|Texas}} [[Government of Texas|Texas]]<br>
*[[Texas Military Department]]
**[[Texas Military Forces|Texas National Guard]]<br>
**[[Texas State Guard]]
*[[Texas Department of Public Safety]]<br>
**[[Texas Ranger Division|Texas Rangers]]<br>{{collapsible list|title=Supported by:|{{flag|Florida}}|{{flag|Oklahoma}}|{{flag|Indiana}}}}
| leadfigures1 = * {{flagicon|United States}} [[Joe Biden]]
* {{flagicon|United States}} [[Alejandro Mayorkas]]
| leadfigures2 = * {{flagicon|Texas}} [[Greg Abbott]]
* {{flagicon|Texas}} [[Ken Paxton]]
| casualties1 =
| casualties2 =
| casualties3 =
}}
On January 11, 2024, the [[Texas Military Forces|Texas National Guard]] took control of [[Shelby Park (Eagle Pass)|Shelby Park]], a {{convert|47|acre|adj=on}} area of parkland in the town of [[Eagle Pass, Texas|Eagle Pass]], along the [[Rio Grande]] river, which separates the [[Mexico–United States border|United States from Mexico]], after [[Governor of Texas|Texas Governor]] [[Greg Abbott]] signed an emergency declaration to close the park. In his declaration, Abbott cited the [[Mexico–United States border crisis]] and the need to secure the border. The Texas National Guard blocked [[United States Border Patrol|U.S. Border Patrol]] agents from patrolling the area, which the Border Patrol had been using to hold migrants in recent weeks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Montoya-Galvez |first=Camilo |date=2024-01-12 |title=Texas blocks federal border agents from processing migrants in Eagle Pass public park |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-blocks-federal-border-agents-processing-migrants-eagle-pass-shelby-park/ |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=[[CBS News]] |language=en-US |archive-date=January 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125212909/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-blocks-federal-border-agents-processing-migrants-eagle-pass-shelby-park/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=García |first=Uriel J. |date=2024-01-11 |title=Texas officers take "full control" of Eagle Pass park against city's wishes |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/11/texas-border-eagle-pass-park-seized-dps-immigration/ |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en |archive-date=January 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116163943/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/11/texas-border-eagle-pass-park-seized-dps-immigration/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Standoff==
After the closure, three migrants were found drowned in the Rio Grande. Mexican authorities subsequently identified them as a 33-year-old woman and her two children, aged 10 and 8. The U.S. Border Patrol said it had alerted the Texas National Guard that a group of migrants were in distress in the waters outside the boat ramp in Shelby Park but that the National Guard took no action to rescue them. Texas lawyers responded that the National Guard was alerted only after the three had drowned, and that the National Guard had not spotted any migrants. Mexican authorities said that the boat never entered U.S. territory.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mexican family's death at border looms over ongoing Justice Department standoff with Texas |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/01/20/drowning-rio-grande-migrants-texas-border-patrol/72268305007/ |first=Eduardo |last=Cuevas |date=January 20, 2024 |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |archive-date=January 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124100859/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/01/20/drowning-rio-grande-migrants-texas-border-patrol/72268305007/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Flores |first1=Rosa |last2=Yan |first2=Holly |last3=Weisfeldt |first3=Sara |last4=Cole |first4=Devan |date=2024-01-15 |title=What we know about the drownings of 3 Mexican migrants near Eagle Pass, Texas |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/15/us/what-we-know-about-the-drownings-of-3-migrants-in-eagle-pass-texas/index.html |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=January 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125191144/https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/15/us/what-we-know-about-the-drownings-of-3-migrants-in-eagle-pass-texas/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
On January 22, the [[Supreme Court of the United States]] issued an order to vacate an injunction by the [[5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals]] that prevented Border Patrol agents from cutting [[concertina wire]], which the National Guard had been using to make a fence in Shelby Park. The ruling concerned an earlier dispute and did not address Texas deploying [[razor wire]] or blocking federal officials from the park.<ref name = "textribjan24"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Understanding the Supreme Court's ruling on razor wire at the Texas-Mexico border|url=https://www.tpr.org/news/2024-01-25/understanding-the-supreme-courts-ruling-on-razor-wire-at-the-texas-mexico-border|first1=Rhonda|last1=Fanning|first2=David|last2=Brown|date=January 25, 2024|website=Texas Public Radio|language=en|access-date=January 26, 2024|archive-date=January 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126023906/https://www.tpr.org/news/2024-01-25/understanding-the-supreme-courts-ruling-on-razor-wire-at-the-texas-mexico-border|url-status=live}}</ref> On January 24, Abbott responded that Texas would refuse to let federal authorities access the park, vowing to "protect the sovereignty of our state".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Melhado |first=William |date=2024-01-22 |title=U.S. Supreme Court says Texas can't block federal agents from the border |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/22/texas-border-supreme-court-immigration/ |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en |archive-date=January 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124234959/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/22/texas-border-supreme-court-immigration/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name = "textribjan24">{{Cite web |last1=García |first1=Uriel J. |last2=Winkie |first2=Davis |date=2024-01-24 |title=Texas' border standoff with feds continues, despite U.S. Supreme Court order |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/24/texas-border-wire-supreme-court/ |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en |archive-date=January 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124235002/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/24/texas-border-wire-supreme-court/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-24 |title=Texas National Guard faces off against federal government in fight over razor wire |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/texas-national-guard-eagle-pass-b2484023.html |first1=Richard |last1=Hall |first2=Ariana |last2=Baio |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=January 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124234958/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/texas-national-guard-eagle-pass-b2484023.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A military standoff between state and federal authorities over immigration is unique in modern American history; constitutional law professor Charles "Rocky" Rhodes and an editorial in the ''[[San Antonio Express-News]]'' said it may signal the start of a [[constitutional crisis]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=García |first=Uriel J. |date=2024-01-22 |title=In Eagle Pass, a tense border standoff between Texas and the federal government is reaching a crescendo |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/22/texas-border-patrol-immigration-enforcement-eagle-pass-park/ |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en |archive-date=January 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125173745/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/22/texas-border-patrol-immigration-enforcement-eagle-pass-park/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Governor Abbott signals potential defiance of Supreme Court's border ruling |first=Andrew |last=Schneider |work=[[KUHT|Houston Public Media]] |date=January 24, 2024 |access-date=January 25, 2024 |url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/border/2024/01/24/475398/governor-abbott-signals-potential-defiance-of-supreme-courts-border-ruling/ |archive-date=January 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125003838/https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/border/2024/01/24/475398/governor-abbott-signals-potential-defiance-of-supreme-courts-border-ruling/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Editorial: Are Abbott and Paxton creating a constitutional crisis at border? |author=Express-News Editorial Board |work=[[San Antonio Express-News]] |date=January 18, 2024 |access-date=January 25, 2024 |url=https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/editorial/article/border-drownings-authority-18614619.php |archive-date=January 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125212317/https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/editorial/article/border-drownings-authority-18614619.php |url-status=live }}</ref>
In the aftermath of the Supreme Court's decision, 25 other [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Republican Governors Association|state governors]] (every Republican governor but Vermont's [[Phil Scott]]) announced their support for Texas in the dispute, as did [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|U.S. House speaker]] [[Mike Johnson (Louisiana politician)|Mike Johnson]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gov.idaho.gov/pressrelease/gov-little-republican-governors-band-together-issue-joint-statement-supporting-texas-constitutional-right-to-self-defense/ |title=Gov. Little, Republican Governors band together, issue joint statement supporting Texas' Constitutional Right to Self-Defense |publisher=Office of the Governor |date=January 25, 2024 |access-date=January 25, 2024 |archive-date=January 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125220010/https://gov.idaho.gov/pressrelease/gov-little-republican-governors-band-together-issue-joint-statement-supporting-texas-constitutional-right-to-self-defense/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Speaker Johnson backs Abbott's border 'invasion' decree |first=Rebecca |last=Beitsch |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |date=January 25, 2024 |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4428993-speaker-johnson-backs-abbotts-border-invasion-decree/ |access-date=January 26, 2024 |archive-date=January 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126035826/https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4428993-speaker-johnson-backs-abbotts-border-invasion-decree/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Florida Governor [[Ron DeSantis]] additionally committed to sending more resources after previously sending the [[Florida National Guard]] to reinforce the Texas government.<ref name=":0" /> Oklahoma Governor [[Kevin Stitt]] pledged to deploy the [[Oklahoma National Guard]] to support Texas, and Indiana Governor [[Eric Holcomb]] announced that 50 [[Indiana National Guard]]smen would arrive in Texas by mid-March.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldsberry |first=Jenny |date=2024-01-26 |title=Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt to 'absolutely' send National Guard to Texas border |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/immigration/2820303/kevin-stitt-to-absolutely-send-national-guard-to-border/ |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=Washington Examiner |language=en-US |archive-date=January 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126182346/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/immigration/2820303/kevin-stitt-to-absolutely-send-national-guard-to-border/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Huber |first1=Craig |title=Indiana commits National Guard to Texas-Mexico border as Gov. Abbott vows to install more razor wire |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/news/2024/02/12/indiana-commits-national-guard-to-texas-mexico-border-as-gov--abbott-vows-to-install-more-razor-wire |publisher=[[Spectrum News]] |access-date=13 February 2024 |date=12 February 2024}}</ref> Other state and national Republican officials backed Texas.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Choi | first1=Matthew | last2=Downen | first2=Robert | title="Hold the line": Republicans rally to Abbott's defense in border standoff with Biden | website=The Texas Tribune | date=January 26, 2024 | url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/25/greg-abbott-border-republicans-joe-biden/ | access-date=January 26, 2024 | archive-date=January 26, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126002137/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/25/greg-abbott-border-republicans-joe-biden/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
On January 23, the [[United States Department of Homeland Security|Department of Homeland Security]] issued [[Texas attorney general]] [[Ken Paxton]] an ultimatum, ordering the removal of "obstructions" along the border and that the Border Patrol be given full access to Shelby Park by January 26.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Department of Homeland Security has sent a letter to Texas A.G demanding that Texas National Guard troops allow Federal personal into the area of Shelby Park by this Friday. |work=[[Washington Examiner]] |first=Anna |last=Giaritelli |date=January 24, 2024 |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/immigration/2814985/biden-administration-demands-texas-grant-dhs-access-border/ |access-date=January 26, 2024 |archive-date=January 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126073722/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/immigration/2814985/biden-administration-demands-texas-grant-dhs-access-border/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 24, [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] Texas representatives [[Joaquin Castro]] and [[Greg Casar]] called for U.S. President [[Joe Biden]] to establish federal control over the Texas National Guard.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-faces-growing-calls-federalize-texas-national-guard-1863839|title=Joe Biden Faces Growing Calls to Federalize Texas National Guard|first=James|last=Bickerton|website=[[Newsweek]]|date=January 25, 2024|access-date=January 25, 2024|archive-date=January 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125232357/https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-faces-growing-calls-federalize-texas-national-guard-1863839|url-status=live}}</ref> On January 26, the deadline set by Department of Homeland Security passed. It had ordered Texas to agree to fully reopen disputed parts of the Shelby Park area to federal Border Patrol agents, emphasizing the need for confirmation and specifying the consequences of partial denial in a letter from DHS General Counsel Jonathan E. Meyer to Attorney General Paxton.
On January 29, more than two dozen Republican state attorneys general, and leadership from the Republican-controlled Arizona state legislature, signed a letter supporting Texas in its border security efforts, addressing President Biden and DHS Secretary [[Alejandro Mayorkas]], emphasizing the importance of upholding the nation's laws and commending Abbott's and Paxton's work in securing the border against the "invasion, encouraged by Biden’s refusal to follow federal statutory law".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/27/us/texas-eagle-pass-us-mexico-border/index.html|title=Texas seized part of the US-Mexico border and blocked federal Border Patrol agents. Here's what happened next|first1=Holly|last1=Yan|first2=Rosa|last2=Flores|first3=Sara|last3=Weisfeldt|date=January 29, 2024|publisher=CNN|access-date=January 30, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129225419/https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/27/us/texas-eagle-pass-us-mexico-border/index.html|archivedate=January 29, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Randazzo |first=Thad |date=2024-01-29 |title=Attorney General Miyares releases statement in support of Texas Border Defense |url=https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/regional-news/virginia-news/attorney-general-miyares-releases-statement-in-support-of-texas-border-defense/ |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=WFXRtv |language=en-US |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130211108/https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/regional-news/virginia-news/attorney-general-miyares-releases-statement-in-support-of-texas-border-defense/ |archivedate=2024-01-30}}</ref>
==See also==
▲* [[Operation Lone Star]]
* [[Arizona SB 1070]]
* [[Compact theory]]
* [[States' rights]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eagle Pass standoff}}
[[Category:Armed standoffs in the United States]]▼
[[Category:2024 in Texas]]
[[Category:2024 in American politics]]
[[Category:GregConflicts Abbottin 2024]]▼
[[Category:January 2024 events in the United States]]
[[Category:February 2024 eventscontroversies in the United States]]
▲[[Category:Armed standoffs in the United States]]
[[Category:Biden administration controversies]]
[[Category:History of immigration to the United States]]
[[Category:Mexico–United States border]]
[[Category:Texas Military Forces]]
[[Category:Maverick County, Texas]]
▲[[Category:Greg Abbott]]
[[Category:Texas border disputes]]
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