Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday refused to comply with President Joe Biden's request for the state to hand over Shelby Park, and instead issued a counter-demand, according to a press release.
Paxton released: press statement In response to a letter sent from the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) It demanded that Texas authorities vacate the border and turn Shelby Park over to officials. But not only is Paxton refusing to cede the border area to DHS, he is also demanding that federal authorities provide “maps and deeds to prove the exact parcels he claims.” It's in the announcement. (Related: Federal officials record record number of people crossing southern border in one month)
“Today, Attorney General Paxton denied the Biden administration's baseless request and issued a counterclaim. By February 15, DHS will provide official maps and deeds showing the exact parcels claimed. , an explanation of how the state of Texas is blocking access to those particular parcels, Eagle Pass or documentation showing that the state of Texas has given DHS permission to build it must be submitted to Border Patrol. evidence that Congress gave DHS the authority to turn Texas parks into unofficial and illegal ports of entry. If the federal government makes such a claim, it must provide evidence.” stated in the press release.
Attorney General Ken Paxton rejects Biden administration's request to extradite Shelby Park and end border security measures: https://t.co/G1nljTAFvQ
— Texas Attorney General (@TXAG) January 26, 2024
The Biden administration and Texas officials are engaged in a legal battle over control of the southern border, which has escalated following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling. Monday. The judges have ruled that the Biden administration will be allowed to remove razor wire that states have installed at the border. (Related: Mr. Turley explains which party has the 'advantage' in Texas-Biden showdown. The conclusion can only be summed up in one word.)
Texas officials had argued to a judge that the razor wire was installed to slow the flow of illegal immigrants into Texas as record numbers of people crossed the border. But DHS had argued that the wires were preventing Border Patrol agents from doing their jobs.
In response to this ruling, the Texas Department of Public Safety further Control Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, is a stretch of land along the southern border that has also seen an increase in illegal immigration, according to a statement posted on Facebook Thursday by Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas.
Since the SCOTUS decision, Texas has refused to return the park or allow state officials to step down from border security duties.wave of republican governor Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statement pushing back against the Biden administration on Wednesday, supporting Texas after stressing that the state has a “constitutional right to self-defense.”
Biden faces pressure from Democrats to federalize the National Guard to seize state borders, but Paxton and other state officials continue to criticize Texas' “efforts” to secure the border .
“Perhaps because you have not responded meaningfully to our letter, your latest letter abandons previous factual claims and asserts new ones.[s], and there will be even less legal basis for your request. Mr. Paxton respectfully reiterates his recommendation to DHS that its time to sue Texas should be redirected to enforcing the immigration laws already in place by Congress,” according to the press release.
“As we have previously stated, our office will continue to defend Texas' efforts to secure its southern border against any efforts by the Biden administration to violate the state's constitutional right to self-defense,” the attorney general said in a response. added in the press release. .
