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.

  • gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    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

      • gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        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

    • GBU_28@lemm.ee
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      10 months ago

      Huh? Your bolded text is just someone following chain of command. A federal agent doesn’t just talk to reporters about their opinions/thoughts.

      • gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        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.

        • GBU_28@lemm.ee
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          10 months ago

          They have separate employees for that. Lawyers and media folks. Agents are not that.

    • Jaysyn@kbin.social
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      10 months ago

      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.

      • gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        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.