democrats- the real threat to national security

The “Texas Military Department” (which actually means Greg Abbott) has illegally barred the federal Border Patrol from the part of the border in question.

Texas disputes claims that state soldiers barred Border Patrol from saving 3 migrants

WASHINGTON — The Texas Military Department is denying that state soldiers blocked Border Patrol from saving three migrants who drowned in the Rio Grande Friday night, saying late Sunday that the migrants were already dead by the time they barred federal agents from entering a stretch of border the state seized last week.

BACKGROUND: 3 migrants drowned after state allegedly blocked Border Patrol from reaching them

Federal authorities said Saturday that three migrants — a woman and two children — drowned in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass after agents who were trying to respond to a distress call were “physically barred” from the 2.5-mile stretch . U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar first detailed the incident on social media Saturday, saying “the state bears responsibility.” 

The Texas Military Department said in a statement Sunday that it had conducted a “thorough review of the circumstances surrounding” the drownings.

“Claims that TMD prevented Border Patrol from saving the lives of drowning migrants are wholly inaccurate,” the agency said. “At the time that Border Patrol requested access, the drownings had occurred, Mexican authorities were recovering the bodies, and Border Patrol expressed these facts to the TMD personnel on site.”

The agency said the Border Patrol agents who requested access to the park told state soldiers that Mexican Authorities had already recovered the bodies of two drowned migrants. The military department said the Border Patrol specifically requested access to the park to secure two additional migrants who were presumed to have traveled with the migrants who drowned but had crossed to the boat ramp. The agency said two migrants were apprehended by state soldiers. One was turned over to state troopers and the other was transferred to EMS in response to initial hypothermic conditions. 

How does that square with this, from the “full statement of the Texas Military Department?

“…At no time did TMD security personnel along the river observe any distressed migrants, nor did TMD turn back any illegal immigrants from the US during this period. Also, at no point was TMD made aware of any bodies in the area of Shelby Park nor was TMD made aware of any bodies being discovered on the U.S. side of the border regarding this situation. …”

Apparently the TMD “didn’t observe” the immigrant they turned over to EMS who was suffering from hypothermia.

The military department had previously said soldiers alerted by Border Patrol agents “actively searched the river with lights and night vision goggles” and did not find any migrants. The agency said soldiers later saw a group of Mexican authorities responding to an incident on the Mexican side of the river and reported it back to the Border Patrol, which confirmed that the Mexican authorities did not need additional assistance. 

The unprecedented state takeover and this weekend’s drownings have escalated an ongoing dispute between state and federal officials, who have been fighting a Texas lawsuit aimed at stopping the Border Patrol from cutting state-owned razor wire in the area. The Department of Justice filed an emergency petition Friday asking the high court to force Texas to allow the Border Patrol access to the area in Eagle Pass.

The Department of Homeland Security sent a letter to Attorney General Ken Paxton Sunday demanding that the state allow Border Patrol access to the area again. The letter, which references the drownings, says Texas’ actions are “clearly unconstitutional.”

Gov. Greg Abbott, who has bragged about evicting Border Patrol agents from the area, touted the military department’s latest statement on social media.

“When BP requested access to river the drownings had already occurred & found in MX,” Abbott wrote late Sunday. “The fact is the deaths are b/c of Biden’s Open Border magnet.”

The governor has been among the most vocal Republican critics of the Biden administration’s immigration policies. The administration has said it needs Congress to approve more funding to hire Border Patrol officers and process a backlog of asylum claims.

Jan 15, 2024

By the way, Ian Miles Cheong is a right-wing Malaysian “political and cultural commentator” (i.e., a social media shit stirrer) who free lances propaganda for RT, Putin’s state-run propaganda outlet.