Texas state officials this week abruptly blocked federal U.S. Border Patrol agents from entering and patrolling a public area in the border town of Eagle Pass where they typically first encounter migrants who cross the Rio Grande illegally, two U.S. officials told CBS News on Thursday.
After seizing control of Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas National Guard units deployed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott have prevented Border Patrol agents from entering the area, the federal officials said. Border Patrol has used the park in recent weeks to hold migrants in an outdoor staging area before they are transported for further processing, including last month, when illegal crossings soared to record levels.
Earlier Thursday, Texas state officials prevented Border Patrol boats from patrolling that area, one of the officials added, requesting anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press.
Oh neat, I didn’t realize you were allowed to just block government agents from entering places where you don’t want them, more people should do this
e;
Earlier Thursday, Texas state officials prevented Border Patrol boats from patrolling that area, one of the officials added, requesting anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press
Oh, not only is the Texas state government pushing the federal government around and they’re just taking it, the leadership on the federal government side is trying to sweep this under the rug and pretend it didn’t happen? What a complete fucking joke, I swear if the south tried to secede today DC would just ask them if they needed any help moving anything
Sure. Ask Ammon Bundy.
Ugh, you just made me remember this asshole exists and (if I’m awake enough to skim a Wikipedia article successfully) has done a grand total of 15 days in jail for all the shit he’s pulled
Meanwhile Tyre Nichols gets beaten to death for driving down the street
Huh? Your bolded text is just someone following chain of command. A federal agent doesn’t just talk to reporters about their opinions/thoughts.
Why is their chain of command trying to sweep this under the rug? There should have been an official statement from Border Patrol these agents could have referred this journalist to, the fact that there wasn’t one and the fact that these agents didn’t just “no comment” this reporter away but instead went the “keep my name out of this, but you should know” route makes it pretty likely that’s what’s going on here.
They have separate employees for that. Lawyers and media folks. Agents are not that.
We would need to wall off Texas though.
Yeah yeah and we’ll get them to pay for it!
Honestly I’ll chip in if it helps. Gotta make this thing happen!
Earlier Thursday, Texas state officials prevented Border Patrol boats from patrolling that area, one of the officials added, requesting anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press
TBF, this could also be because they are about to take legal action.
Maybe, but I doubt it. They could easily put out a statement like
We are aware of allegations that officials with the Texas government interfered with the lawful duties of federal officers and are investigating them presently. Regardless of the particulars of this matter I can say that anyone interfering with federal agents, be they state government employees or anyone else, is a highly serious matter, and it will be handled accordingly. We will provide more information to the public about this as soon as we’re able, but at this time we have no further comments."
or some other empty boilerplate. Maybe they didn’t have a lawyer or bureaucrat handy who could wordsmith that out when the reporter came calling, but I think it’s a lot more likely they wanted to pretend this whole thing never happened so they didn’t have to stand up to the Texas state government.
What Are the Penalties for 18 U.S.C 111?
This statute outlines certain types of assault against a federal officer and the appropriate charges and penalties. Penalties for Defenses for Assaulting or Resisting a Federal Officer A simple assault of a federal officer carries a $100,000 fine and up to one year in prison.
For example, simple assault is forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, or interfering with federal officers while performing their duties. As noted, physical contact or injury is not required for a conviction.
Simple federal assault is a Class A misdemeanor that carries up to 1 year in jail and fines of up to $100,000.
Lock. Them. Up.
Sorry, the US has taken a kid glove approach to fascism, insurgency, and degration of the rule of law. Biden will make a sound bite about how this is bad, and if that doesn’t fix it, well he tried all he could do.
After seizing control of Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas National Guard units deployed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott have prevented Border Patrol agents from entering the area
So fascist-occupied Texas is just invading federal territory by official order now? Isn’t that tantamount to a declaration of war against the US government?
It should be, but this government is famously incapable of defending itself from white terrorists.
Incapable of? No. Unwilling to? Always.
Why did the federal agents back off? Don’t they have the higher authority in this situation?
Crickets from DC.
Honestly we’d be better off as a country without Texas.
Ohhh gus gunna be mad
Federalize their national guard, then.
They’re misusing military resources for political maneuvers. If the supreme Court does not order them to stand down, or if they refuse such an order, then it will be a necessity.
Goddamnedfascists
Removed by mod
Wait, why are people in the comments supporting Border Patrol agents? They’re not exactly paragons of virtue here.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/03/02/us-border-patrol-broken
Texas gov is one big cluster fuck. But I’m not going to suddenly root for Border Patrol either.
I think it’s more about the fact that Texas national guard, under the orders of the state governor, are blocking border patrols from being in the area to assist or respond to emergencies or do their duty. Not to say they weren’t potentially going to abuse the migrants too, but letting Texas have free reign to bus who they want where they want with impunity would be a misstep in federal/state rights.
Federalize the Texas National Guard.
It’s because most people expect federal law to supercede state law, so even though border patrol are wildly unpopular, they are feds.
Further, in the particular case, there is a humanitarian crisis at the border, with folks taking huge risks, and living in terrible conditions. Getting processed by the feds at least remedies the IMMEDIATE situation. Ultimately the Texas national guard is quiet quitting so to speak, just refusing to process incoming migrants. So it isn’t Texas saying “we can do it better, leave us alone” they’re saying “nobody touch em”
I’m fully aware there are future problems for migrants who are processed. Some are sent home, to incredibly dangerous places, some are kept in rough detention for a long time, and many other issues. No need to bring them up, it’s not my point, and I’m already familiar with them.
I guarantee you the people Texas is sending are worse.
Nah Im just jealous I can’t tell federal agents on my land to piss off with impunity.
