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submitted 11 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

The Department of Homeland Security had directed the state to stop blocking the U.S. Border Patrol’s access to roughly 2½ miles of the U.S.-Mexico border

Texas is refusing to comply with a cease-and-desist letter from the Biden administration over actions by the state that have impeded U.S. Border Patrol agents from accessing part of the border with Mexico.

In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton rejected the Biden administration’s request for the state to “cease and desist” its takeover of Shelby Park, an epicenter of southwest border illegal immigration in Eagle Pass.

"Because the facts and law side with Texas, the State will continue utilizing its constitutional authority to defend her territory, and I will continue defending those lawful efforts in court," Paxton wrote.

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[-] Hotspur@lemmy.ml 83 points 11 months ago

I mean, they are occupying a section of the border of the entire country, and denying, through threat of violence, the federal government/military access to said border. At some point, this simply has to be read as insurrection, and put down. A country only gets to exist and enforce laws by virtue of the implied violence (physical or otherwise) that it can leverage to back it up.

Of course there are complications to this, like the thought that steamrolling these troopers would then spark a greater revolt. But when you have a state doing things like this, particularly a state that has made it abundantly clear they desire to secede and have prepared for secession, I think you need to play hardball. This could be either by forcibly bringing them back in line through state violence, or giving them what they want, in such a way that it ends up being a pyrrhic victory; imagine aggressive border protocols and removal of free travel along the Texas border, intense tariffs and duties on Texan goods, etc… honestly a Texit could be quite beneficial for the country, shifting congress balances somewhat. Add in some statehood’s for PR, Guam and DC and now you’re really cooking with gas.

Who knows though, I’m still finding it hard to believe that the Jan 6 insurrectionists weren’t mowed down in machine gun fire when they penetrated the capitol, so clearly my expectations of government reaction and what actually happens have some daylight between them.

[-] m0darn@lemmy.ca 46 points 11 months ago

I think having the FBI arrest the leadership is a better approach than troops killing each other.

[-] Hotspur@lemmy.ml 14 points 11 months ago

Yeah I mean that’s fine, but you’d run the same risk there with bluff-calling and standoffs. Like clearly Texas is trying to bait the feds into either rolling over for a cheap win, or doing something that they might be able to use to spark something more significant. Not sure which is worse, but I know which one will look more weak/will incite further escalators acts on Texas’ part.

[-] Xanis@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

So the larger issue is that Republicans will continue pushing the goalposts until eventually a drastic action has to be taken. Better now, I think.

[-] Hotspur@lemmy.ml 2 points 11 months ago

Basically exactly what I think also—it’s not an activity that just stops at some arbitrary point, it’s a power negotiation. They’ll push it as far as they can.

[-] GlendatheGayWitch@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

Abbott does have a history of trotting out the national guard to keep the US military in place. If you don't remember, look up the Jade Helm Scare. A Russian propaganda farm pushed the idea on social media that Obama was going to take TX citizens prisoner in abandoned Walmarts that were converted to holding centers and do something with them. Abbott was so convinced this could happen, that he ordered the national guard to watch the military training g exercise nicknamed Jade Helm.

[-] Hotspur@lemmy.ml 1 points 11 months ago

I remember that. Such a weird and excellent name for a loony military operation.

this post was submitted on 18 Jan 2024
389 points (98.5% liked)

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