White House Blames Texas for ‘Blocking’ Rescue of Drowning Immigrants, Texas Says Description ‘Inaccurate’

The White House in Washington on Jan. 3, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

Texas authorities are refuting claims made by the White House blaming Gov. Greg Abbott’s policies for the recent death of three immigrants, adding to the tense legal battle between states and the federal government over the border.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the White House, on Jan. 12, a woman and two children drowned while trying to cross the Rio Grande River near the Shelby Park area of Eagle Pass, Texas.

The DHS alleges that after receiving a distress call from the Mexican government, Border Patrol agents were “physically barred” by Texas National Guard soldiers from entering the park and saving the three people attempting to illegally cross into the United States outside a port of entry from drowning.

The southern border town has been a major crossing point used by illegal immigrants entering from Mexico. Since 2021, the Texas National Guard has maintained a presence in the area, including security points and temporary barriers, as part of Operation Lone Star.

Barricaded sections of the Rio Grande include Shelby Park and its boat ramp.

On the same day as the drownings, Texas state authorities announced they had taken complete control of the public park in effort to deter the rise illegal crossings, which reached 12,000 in December, according to Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas). The Department of Justice has taken the matter to court, arguing that blocking federal park access could endanger lives and prevent agents from doing their jobs.

“The Texas governor’s policies are cruel, dangerous, and inhumane, and Texas’s blatant disregard for federal authority over immigration poses grave risks,” the DHS said in a media statement.

According to the DHS, later that evening, Mexican authorities recovered three bodies from the river. White House Assistant Press Secretary Angelo Fernández Hernández also made a media statement about the incident, laying the blame for the three deaths squarely at the feet of Gov. Abbott, and echoed the sentiment from the DHS that his policies are “cruel, dangerous, and inhumane.”

“While we continue to gather facts about the circumstances of these tragic deaths, one thing is clear: Governor Abbott’s political stunts are cruel, inhumane, and dangerous. U.S. Border Patrol must have access to the border to enforce our laws,” he said.

The federal and Texas state governments have feuded for years over border policies and more recently, over jurisdiction.

Enforcing immigration law has traditionally fallen under the federal government’s purview, although the Texas state government has since cited its Constitutional right to have the “sovereign authority to protect its borders because the President refuses to enforce federal immigration laws,” as the state struggles to cope with a record-breaking number of border crossings into its territories without federal support for its border policies.

The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Texas earlier this month, claiming that its new law, Senate Bill 4, which came into effect that month, is unconstitutional. The law allows state officials to arrest and seek the deportation of illegal immigrants who have crossed the border. Texas would recognize anyone granted asylum or lawful presence in the United States by the federal government, including those under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program between June 2012 and July 2021.

Texas Military Denies They Interfered in Rescue Attempts

The Texas Military Department (TMD) has come out to defend its personnel and called the allegations they prevented rescues of the drowning immigrants “wholly inaccurate.”

In a Jan. 13 statement, the TMD says they were informed of the distressed migrant group but the unit sent to investigate found no sign of them. Mexican authorities were already responding to the incident and indicated no assistance was required, according to TMD.

“At no time did TMD security personnel along the river observe any distressed migrants, nor did TMD turn back any illegal immigrants from the U.S. during this period,” the statement said.

“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.”

In a Jan. 14 update, TMD claims to have conducted a “thorough review” of the incident and doubled down on its assertion that reports of National Guard soldiers blocking access to drowning people are “inaccurate.”

According to TMD, when CPB agents requested access, the drownings had already occurred, and Mexican Authorities were already recovering the three deceased migrants. TMD says it also had personnel search with lights, night vision goggles, and thermals to ensure no additional people were in the river or in distress.

“Border Patrol specifically requested access to the park to secure two additional migrants that were presumed to have traveled with the deceased, though had crossed to the boat ramp,” TMD said.

“Two migrants were apprehended by TMD, with one turned over to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the other transferred to EMS in response to initial hypothermic conditions.”