In a bold move, Texas has been arresting illegal immigrants for trespassing in Shelby Park, defying the Biden administration’s demands to relinquish control of the park to federal authorities. Last week, Texas assumed control of Shelby Park, a 47-acre public park in Eagle Pass facing significant influxes of illegal immigrants. Texas argued that federal officials were exacerbating the border crisis, while the Biden administration contended that the state was hindering Border Patrol efforts.

Chris Olivarez, spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, announced on Wednesday that state troopers had initiated arrests of illegal immigrants in the park. Acting under Governor Greg Abbott’s Border Disaster Declaration, troopers began apprehending individuals for criminal trespass at Shelby Park, focusing on single adult men and women. Olivarez emphasized the state’s commitment to proactively curbing illegal border crossings between ports of entry.

On Thursday, it was disclosed that three more illegal immigrants—two from Azerbaijan and one from Ecuador—had been arrested while attempting to breach the park through the barbed wire set up by Texas. They were subsequently arrested and jailed for criminal trespass.

The Department of Homeland Security responded to Texas’s actions with a cease-and-desist letter on Sunday, urging the state to relinquish control of Shelby Park. However, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton firmly asserted the state’s stance, refusing to yield to what he deemed as President Biden’s detrimental open-border policies.

“Texas will not surrender to Biden’s destructive open-border policies. Attorney General Paxton will continue to defend Texas as it uses its constitutional authority to defend state territory, sovereignty, and citizens,” Paxton declared on Wednesday, in direct response to the DHS letter.

The standoff between Texas and the federal government underscores the deep divide over immigration policies and control measures. While Texas remains resolute in its commitment to secure its borders, the Biden administration seeks a different approach, resulting in a contentious clash that highlights the ongoing struggle to address and manage the complex issue of illegal immigration. As legal battles loom, the fate of Shelby Park remains a focal point in the broader debate on border security.