26 January 2024 , 10:18
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There are fears a civil war will break out due to the Eagle Pass dispute - after Republican governors in 25 states backed Texas in a standoff with the federal government over illegal immigration.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court ruled against Texas Governor Greg Abbott who placed razor wire along miles of the border with Mexico - but in response, the Republican vowed to add even more razor wire to crack down on immigration. It is estimated that in December alone, over 225,000 illegal migrants crossed the border from Mexico.
Last week, the Texas National Guard blocked federal border patrol troops from entering the area in the town of Eagle Pass, accusing them of destroying the fortifications. On Monday, the Supreme Court issued an order for US Border Patrol agents to clear out the razor wire.
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The Texas National Guard behind a gate of the Shelby Park in Eagle Pass (ADAM DAVIS/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)However, the dispute escalated on Tuesday with Texas National Guard troops saying they would "hold the line" to control the area. According to NBC News, the US Department of Homeland Security - the federal agency that oversees the Border Patrol - sent a letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office Tuesday demanding that immigration officers be allowed access to the park.
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The letter, from DHS general counsel Jonathan Meyer, said: "To our knowledge, Texas has only permitted access to Shelby Park by allowing public entry for a memorial, the media, and the use of the golf course adjacent to Shelby Park, all while continuing to restrict US Border Patrol's access to the park. Please clarify the scope of access Texas permits to the public."
Air Force Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer, who was appointed by Mr Abbott to oversee the Texas National Guard and Texas State Guard as the agency’s adjutant general, told staff he believes the ruling only permits Border Patrol to cut through obstacles to retrieve stranded migrants, according to The Texas Tribune. He added that his troops would not allow federal agents to set up migrant processing centres in areas they have blocked.
The agency said in an unsigned statement on Tuesday: "The Texas Military Department continues to hold the line in Shelby Park to deter and prevent unlawful entry into the State of Texas. We remain resolute in our actions to secure our border, preserve the rule of law, and protect the sovereignty of our State."
Texas governor Greg Abbott said his state has the right to protect the border (AP)On Wednesday, Mr Abbott defended his actions, saying Texas has the right to continue doing what it is doing. He claimed, without providing evidence, that Joe Biden has been refusing to enforce current immigration laws. He said in a statement: "President Biden has violated his oath to faithfully execute immigration laws enacted by Congress.
"Instead of prosecuting immigrants for the federal crime of illegal entry, President Biden has sent his lawyers into federal courts to sue Texas for taking action to secure the border." And on Thursday, 25 Republican governors issued a joint statement saying they "stand in solidarity" with Mr Abbott and the State of Texas "in utilizing every tool and strategy, including razor wire fences, to secure the border."
Migrants cross the Rio Bravo River into the US (AFP via Getty Images)The statement reads: "President Biden and his Administration have left Americans and our country completely vulnerable to unprecedented illegal immigration pouring across the Southern border. Instead of upholding the rule of law and securing the border, the Biden Administration has attacked and sued Texas for stepping up to protect American citizens from historic levels of illegal immigrants, deadly drugs like fentanyl, and terrorists entering our country.
"We stand in solidarity with our fellow Governor, Greg Abbott, and the State of Texas in utilizing every tool and strategy, including razor wire fences, to secure the border. We do it in part because the Biden Administration is refusing to enforce immigration laws already on the books and is illegally allowing mass parole across America of migrants who entered our country illegally."
US President Joe Biden has been urged to take a tougher stance against Texas (AFP via Getty Images)Former US president and now presidential candidate Donald Trump encouraged "all willing states" to deploy their own National Guard members to Texas. He said in a statement: "We encourage all willing States to deploy their guards to Texas to prevent the entry of Illegals, and to remove them back across the Border. All Americans should support the commonsense measures by Texas authorities to protect the Safety, Security, and Sovereignty of Texas, and of the American people."
After Trump's comments, some social media users have expressed their concerns about the risk of civil war as the stand-off with the federal government continues. Caroline Orr Bueno, Ph.D, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: "Trump is openly calling for states to take up arms against the federal government, which is as close to calling for civil war as you can get without actually using the words. This is an alarming escalation and this situation could spiral out of control very, very quickly."
Donald Trump called for other US states to send their own National Guard members to Texas (AFP via Getty Images)Referring to the 25 governors who expressed their support for Texas, another person added: "My God. They sure act like they want a Civil War." One noted: "Trump would like you to have a civil war now so he doesn’t have to go to prison, America."
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Meanwhile, Democrats are urging Joe Biden to take a tougher stance against Texas, with congressman Joaquin Castro calling for federal control over the guardsmen. He wrote on X: "Governor Greg Abbott is using the Texas National Guard to obstruct and create chaos at the border."
25 states supporting Texas over the border dispute at Eagle Pass
- Governor Kim Reynolds - Iowa
- Governor Kay Ivey - Alabama
- Governor Mike Dunleavy - Alaska
- Governor Sarah Sanders - Arkansas
- Governor Ron DeSantis - Florida
- Governor Brian Kemp - Georgia
- Governor Brad Little - Idaho
- Governor Eric Holcomb - Indiana
- Governor Jeff Landry - Louisiana
- Governor Tate Reeves - Mississippi
- Governor Mike Parson - Missouri
- Governor Greg Gianforte - Montana
- Governor Jim Pillen - Nebraska
- Governor Joe Lombardo - Nevada
- Governor Chris Sununu - New Hampshire
- Governor Doug Burgum - North Dakota
- Governor Mike DeWine - Ohio
- Governor Kevin Stitt - Oklahoma
- Governor Henry McMaster - South Carolina
- Governor Kristi Noem - South Dakota
- Governor Bill Lee - Tennessee
- Governor Spencer Cox - Utah
- Governor Glenn Youngkin - Virginia
- Governor Jim Justice - West Virginia
- Governor Mark Gordon - Wyoming