Texas National Guard seizes key border crossing point, blocks Feds

The Texas National Guard has seized control of city property in a key border crossing point and is restricting access by the Border Patrol, the Texas Military Department said in a statement obtained by Fox News's Bill Melugin.

"The Texas National Guard has maintained a presence with security points and temporary barrier in Shelby Park since 2021. The current posture is to prepare for future illegal immigrant surges and to restrict access to organizations that perpetuate illegal immigrant crossings in the park and greater Eagle Pass area," they told the outlet.

"Texas will continue to deploy Texas National Guard soldiers, DPS troopers, and more barriers, utilizing every tool and strategy to respond to President Biden’s ongoing border crisis," Abbott spokeswoman Renae Eze told the New York Post. The city of Eagle Pass, Texas, confirmed the same day that state authorities were taking control of the area. Shelby Park is city property adjacent to the Rio Grande river, the waterway that divides the U.S. from Mexico.

NEW: The Texas Military Department confirms the TX National Guard has seized control of Shelby Park in Eagle Pass (city property where mass illegal crossings are), and is restricting Border Patrol from accessing the area, saying the Feds “perpetuate illegal crossings”. This is… pic.twitter.com/29UqFmWDsx

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) January 12, 2024

The move comes amid myriad legal battles between Texas and the federal government over Operation Lone Star, Austin's unilateral effort to secure its border Mexico amid perceived apathy from the federal government and an unprecedented surge in illegal crossings.

The Border Patrol Union lauded Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott's actions, saying he "is not harming Border Patrol operations, he is enhancing them. His seizing control of Shelby Park allows our agents to deploy to troubled spots that experience high numbers of gotaways. Governor Abbott’s actions should be seen as a force multiplier."

Abbott in late December, signed a law making illegal entry into Texas a state crime and permitting authorities to arrest illegal immigrants and state judges to order their deportation. The state has also quarreled with Washington over its installation of a buoy barrier in the river and the installation of razor war along the shore.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.