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submitted 9 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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[-] rockSlayer@lemmy.world 114 points 9 months ago

Because the facts and law side with Texas

Lol no they don't. Paxton knows that. Federal agents always have jurisdiction over the border

[-] Monument@lemmy.sdf.org 13 points 9 months ago

Right, I mean, literally the federal government could claim 200 miles from the border in Texas and the only thing that could stop them is a bad interpretation of the law by the Supreme Court. Which probably puts it within the realm of possibility, to be honest.

[-] paddirn@lemmy.world 109 points 9 months ago

Just send in an 18 year old kid with a gun, those Texans will be petrified with fear and won’t even be able to respond. Or does that only work when it’s at a school?

[-] Narauko@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago

Just designate the area as an "open air campus" and then you're good to go.

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[-] Hotspur@lemmy.ml 83 points 9 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 9 months ago

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

[-] Hotspur@lemmy.ml 14 points 9 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 9 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.

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[-] Sweetpeaches69@lemmy.world 79 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

What's the issue? Get a ton of federal agents, march on the border, arrest all obstructing Texas shitheads and beat them down with the book. Make examples out of them.

[-] lolcatnip@reddthat.com 17 points 9 months ago

That will likely result in bloodshed. I think it's inevitable at this point unless Biden decides to completely roll over.

[-] KevonLooney@lemm.ee 42 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

There's not going to be any bloodshed. Texas National Guard soldiers want to go home safely every night, just like everyone else. I think the main issue is the border patrol doesn't want a conflict.

Biden could nationalize the Texas Guard troops at the fence. Then give them a direct order to open the gate. If they don't, dishonorable discharge for disobeying a direct order from the President. No pension, no nothing. They will open the gate.

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[-] bradorsomething@ttrpg.network 12 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

We already handled the “what are you going to do if we don’t follow the law” question here once, they must have just taken that part out of their history books.

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[-] grue@lemmy.world 67 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

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”

WTF? A cease and desist is a demand, not a "request!"

That's not even quoting Texas' fascist AG or anything; that's the article writers' own spin. Why are Julia Ainsley and Zoë Richards carrying water for fascists?

[-] CADmonkey@lemmy.world 9 points 9 months ago

Their editors told them it makes more money, I'd guess.

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[-] Laughbone@lemmy.world 65 points 9 months ago

The only thing Ken Paxton should be defending in court is himself for securities fraud.

[-] Cheems@lemmy.world 52 points 9 months ago

Revoke all federal funding until they comply

[-] nxdefiant@startrek.website 35 points 9 months ago

Use their federal funding to forcibly remove them and place them in prison. Governance of national borders is not and should not be contingent on the presumed compliance of some malicious shitheads.

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[-] iyaerP@lemmy.world 49 points 9 months ago

Just arrest all these fuckers, starting with the Texas Governor.

[-] vrek@programming.dev 30 points 9 months ago

The governor sucks but please start with Paxton.

[-] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 14 points 9 months ago

Invite them both to the White House. Then arrest them at the same time

[-] PugJesus@kbin.social 33 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

For fuck's sake, arrest these nimrods. At gunpoint, because God knows they aren't fucking cooperative.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 31 points 9 months ago

"Now stop it or we'll send another sternly-worded letter!"

[-] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 41 points 9 months ago

Arrest the guy for obstructing federal agencies. Then send another strongly worded letter to everyone else.

If they still refuse… arrest them too.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 16 points 9 months ago

That would be nice, wouldn't it?

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[-] crusa187@lemmy.ml 12 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Dems: “Help! We sent a letter with strongest possible wording, it wasn’t effective, and we’re all out of ideas!”

How many times do conservatives have to slap Dems in the face before realizing they aren’t good faith actors?! Genocide in the Middle East, murder for fun on the southern border…what a mess.

[-] bradorsomething@ttrpg.network 23 points 9 months ago

The clear answer here is to say if Texas demands to police the boarder, all Federal boarder agents will be pulled back, and funding for boarder protection will be withheld. You can’t have it both ways.

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[-] RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world 19 points 9 months ago

Republicans: We need stronger border protections!

DHS: Here's increased BPD funding and facility modernization efforts.

Republicans: No. Only death.

[-] unreasonabro@lemmy.world 14 points 9 months ago

Time to recolonize Texas, send in the settlers.

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[-] scottmeme@sh.itjust.works 11 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

God I hate our state government

Also remember Ken Paxton is a criminal

[-] ratman150@sh.itjust.works 10 points 9 months ago

They decided the pronouns of Texas are her? Awfully progressive, didn't know the state of Texas could even have a gender?

[-] RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world 9 points 9 months ago

...so arrest it.

[-] GilgameshCatBeard@lemmy.ca 6 points 9 months ago

Isn’t that insurrection? The Texas government needs to be dismantled and rebuilt.

[-] Xtallll@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 9 months ago

Texas is using the national guard, Biden is the Commander and Chief, he should just order them to stand down, then court marshal anyone who refuses the lawful order.

[-] Facebones@reddthat.com 4 points 9 months ago

Time for my daily comment on this situation that Biden won't do shit because the only true crime to democrats is hurting Republican feels.

[-] Bitflip@lemmy.ml 3 points 9 months ago

As I've said before, America should overthrow Texas

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

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