In Eagle Pass, Texas, a significant effort by Texas authorities to curb illegal border crossings at Shelby Park has shown signs of effectiveness. However, despite these efforts, border crossings continue to occur in nearby areas.
The Texas National Guard and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) have effectively taken control of Shelby Park, a 47-acre park along the Rio Grande. They have implemented a strategic approach identified as “PDI,” which stands for “prevent, deter, interdict.” To bolster border security, Texas authorities have deployed shipping containers and layered the area with triple-strand concertina and razor wire. Recent footage reveals Texas National Guard engineers reinforcing existing barriers with additional razor wire.
Despite these robust measures, individuals who manage to bypass the barriers and enter the park are typically apprehended and often face trespassing charges. Videos have emerged showing Texas authorities detaining illegal immigrants who have penetrated the park’s defenses.
While the measures have significantly reduced illegal crossings at Shelby Park, previously a major route for illegal immigrants, people are still managing to enter the United States through other locations nearby that are under federal control. Recent footage from an area about 5 miles from Shelby Park shows a man from Peru, wearing a life jacket after crossing the Rio Grande, boarding a bus likely headed to a federal processing facility in Eagle Pass.
Similar incidents were recorded with individuals from Guatemala boarding buses at the same location. These areas along the border have accumulated piles of trash left by migrants crossing into the United States.
Shelby Park has become a focal point in a dispute between Texas authorities and the Biden administration. Texas officials have barred Border Patrol from regaining control of the park, despite federal claims to the right of access. While Texas National Guard and DPS maintain control over Shelby Park, federal Border Patrol agents predominantly staff the areas where migrants are put on buses, leading them to processing centers, with many eventually released into the interior of the United States.
The ongoing disagreement over Shelby Park intensified after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton refused a request from the Biden administration for full access to the park. This dispute comes amid an unprecedented crisis at the U.S. border, with over 10 million crossings recorded since President Joe Biden took office.