Texas authorities arrested immigrants in Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Wednesday night (17), who were indicted for criminal trespass, marking the first arrests of immigrants since the state took control of the area at the U.S.-Mexico border last week.
Single men and women were taken into state custody, while families and children were transferred to U.S. Border Patrol.
“The State of #Texas will maintain a proactive stance in containing illegal border crossings between ports of entry,” wrote Lt. Chris Olivarez of the Department of Public Safety on social media.
Immigrants arrested for criminal trespass face state charges first before being transferred to U.S. Border Patrol officials, Olivarez told CNN. The arrests occurred in Shelby Park and on private land where the owner granted state authority to make arrests, Olivarez explained.
The arrests come as tensions rise between Texas and federal authorities due to the ongoing increase of immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The Biden administration informed Texas state authorities that they had until the end of Wednesday to stop blocking U.S. Border Patrol access to a 4-mile stretch along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to a letter from the Department of Homeland Security obtained exclusively by CNN.
In the letter to Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, DHS stated that the state’s actions “hindered operations” and are unconstitutional.
Paxton responded on Wednesday to federal authorities, saying, “Texas will not back down,” in a statement released by his office.
In a three-page letter, Paxton asserted that Texas has constitutional authority to defend its territory, an authority he plans to continue fighting for in court, according to the letter.
The dispute between Texas and federal authorities continues as the White House and lawmakers challenge Texas policies, including the new law that makes illegal entry into the state a state crime.
The polarizing issue has reached the U.S. Supreme Court with the Biden administration requesting intervention from the Supreme Court justices.
Source: CNN