TEXAS: A lady and two children perished in the Rio Grande as they tried to the enter the U.S. from Mexico on Friday night after Texas military troops barred federal border inspectors from going to their rescue, according to U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar.
The killings occur at a time when the Republican administration of US President Joe Biden and the Democratic governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, are embroiled in a heated immigration conflict.
According to Cuellar’s statement, the migrants were trying to cross the river near Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, which is not a legitimate port of entry and where the Texas National Guard installed new concertina wire and fencing this week.
The federal government of the United States accused Texas on Friday in a Supreme Court court filing of building the new obstacles to prevent federal Border Patrol agents from accessing a boat ramp that they use to enter the Rio Grande.
Texas responded on Saturday, stating that, up until Friday’s filing, it was “unaware of federal law enforcement’s current objections, and is working promptly to address them.” It further stated that, in recent months, federal Border Patrol agents had mostly stopped utilizing the boat ramp.
According to Democrat Cuellar’s statement, Federal Border Patrol authorities were notified at approximately 9 p.m. about a group of migrants who were in trouble while attempting to cross the Rio Grande.
After making many fruitless attempts to reach Texas officials by phone, federal investigators went in person to the Shelby Park entrance and spoke with representatives of the Texas Military Department and Texas National Guard.
“However, Texas Military Department soldiers stated they would not grant access to the migrants – even in the event of an emergency – and that they would send a soldier to investigate the situation,” the statement said.
Authorities in Mexico found the woman’s and the two children’s dead on Saturday, according to Cuellar.
“This is a tragedy, and the State bears responsibility,” Cuellar stated.
A representative for the governor of Texas directed inquiries to the Texas Military Department, which did not promptly furnish a response to a request for remarks. In response to inquiries, a Border Patrol representative did not answer right away.
The Supreme Court case is a part of a larger conflict between the governor of Texas and the Biden administration over an unprecedented amount of people entering the country illegally since Biden took office in 2021.
Texas has been attempting more and more to impose border controls on its own, even though historically the federal government has the legal authority to do so.
