EAGLE PASS (NewsNation) — Three migrants from Venezuela who attempted to cross the southern border near Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas told NewsNation they sustained injuries trying to go through razor wire placed there by the state’s Military Department.
One woman said she had cuts on her legs, while a man said he had some on his arms.
Migrants stuck between border wire
NewsNation exclusive footage captured the migrants stuck between the Rio Grande and concertina wire as a border battle between Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the federal government continues.
A recent Supreme Court ruling allowed federal agents to cut the wire, but the Texas Military Department asserts it will maintain its operations in the park along the Rio Grande.
The migrants who spoke to NewsNation said they have been waiting on the riverbanks for two days.
Blocked by the razor wire, the migrants are essentially stuck there, as they’re afraid to swim back to Mexico because of the speed of the current at the Rio Grande.
Texas v. Biden Administration on Shelby Park
Abbott ordered the Texas Military Department to assume control of Shelby Park in Eagle Pass on Jan. 10, preventing Border Patrol access to about 2 1/2 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. Their goal is to block migrants from entering the park.
If migrants do enter illegally, they will be arrested and charged by Texas Department of Public Safety troopers.
This legal battle over the razor wire began in October when Texas’ attorney general sued the Biden administration. This followed an incident in Eagle Pass where federal agents used a forklift to lift the razor wire and apprehend a group of migrants.
Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security warned Texas officials to stop its operations and allow agents to enter.
Despite warnings, Texas continues to defy the cease-and-desist sent and has started arresting migrants as the state continues its refusal to allow agents into the park.
“The Texas Military Department continues to hold the line in Shelby Park to deter and prevent unlawful entry into the State of Texas,” the department said in a statement Tuesday.
What’s happening now at the border?
NewsNation cameras captured Texas officials on Wednesday installing new razor and anti-climb fences along Shelby Park, as well as atop shipping containers that migrants have often climbed to illegally enter the border.
Texas officials have argued federal agents cut the wire to help groups crossing illegally through the river before taking them in for processing.
So far, NewsNation has not seen any federal agents attempt to enter the park to cut razor wire in the park.
Sources in Mexico told NewsNation that Mexican officials are conducting operations on freight trains to stop migrants from riding train cars to the U.S. border.
What are lawmakers saying about the border wire?
On Tuesday. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, called the opinion from the Supreme Court “unconscionable,” and called for the state to ignore it in a post online.
Roy has called on other members of the Congressional delegation to oppose funding to the Department of Homeland Security “or any other entity facilitating this brazen violation of the security & welfare of Texans.”
Rep. Randy Weber, R-Texas, who is in Mexico discussing immigration with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, told NewsNation that he supports Abbott’s actions to install more razor wire.
“Quite frankly, I think that Gov. Abbott needs to tell the federal government to stay out of Texas, in my opinion. They’re not protecting the border, they’ve done a lousy job as an administration, they’re not putting the policies in effect that need to be there to deter people from coming,” Weber said.
