No images? Click here
February 25, 2024
NEWS DIGEST
by Brandon Waltens
Good morning,
A month after the U.S. Supreme Court moved to allow federal agents to tear down Texas’ barriers along the southern border, the state’s forces are continuing to hold their ground.
Currently, as part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star initiative, Texas National Guard and the Department of Public Safety have placed concertina wire and other barriers along the Rio Grande in an effort to deter illegal crossings.
After the Biden administration ordered Border Patrol personnel last year to cut down the barriers to allow illegal aliens to pass through, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals placed an injunction preventing them from doing so. Last month, however, the U.S. Supreme Court lifted that injunction, allowing the destruction of the barriers to resume.
But while immediately after the decision many observers expected federal agents to resume destruction of the barriers, weeks later that hasn’t happened.
Instead, at Shelby Park—a hotspot of crossings in Eagle Pass that was seized by the state—more barriers in the form of razor wire and shipping container blockades have been placed than when the decision was first announced last month.
While the result may be due to a combination of factors, recent reports have indicated that illegal crossings have decreased in Texas and shifted to other parts of the country like Arizona and California. In December, the Del Rio sector—which includes Eagle Pass—saw the largest decrease.
Recent moves from Gov. Greg Abbott have suggested that the state’s involvement in preventing illegal border crossings shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.
Abbott recently announced the construction on an 80 acre base for Texas National Guard soldiers in Eagle Pass. The base will be able to house up to 1,800 soldiers and will have the ability to take in 500 additional troops. Currently soldiers have been quartered in hotels and rental properties throughout the region.
Featured
While the Office of the Attorney General has been blocked from prosecuting election fraud criminally, Ken Paxton announced Thursday night a civil lawsuit against the Denton Independent School District for what he has described as “illegal” election activity.
A husband-wife administrator team in Denton sent explicitly political messages to their staff. Paxton described those actions as “directly violating the Texas Election Code’s prohibition against the use of ‘state or local funds or other resources of the district to electioneer for or against any candidate, measure, or political party.'”
State
Time For a Change? Schenck and Keller Spar Over Criminal Appeals Court Leadership
Attorney David Schenck is challenging Presiding Judge Sharon Keller in the Republican primary.
Abbott Urges Texans to ‘Bank their Votes Early’ During Campaign Stop
Abbott’s campaign stop for Mike Olcott is one of many he is doing across the state ahead of the Republican primary election.
Texas Tech Professor Publicly Expresses Antisemitism
The university has an opportunity for reform.
Local
A ‘Dark Day’ for Houston Police
There were 4,107 adult sexual assault cases wrongly closed without investigation.
A Leander High School Delays Telling Parents About Alleged Educator Misconduct
The central Texas school district notified parents five days after finding out about a possible inappropriate relationship between a teacher and a student.
Denton Mom Escalates Challenge to ‘Transgender’ Books in Elementary School
Citizens Defending Freedom and attorney Mitch Little are joining the fight against unsuitable books in Denton ISD.
Federal
Federal Lawmakers Demand Answers on Housing Illegal Aliens in Airports
U.S. House Republicans told the Federal Aviation Administration that housing illegal aliens at airports poses security risks.
More Than 200 Chinese Nationals Apprehended at Border in a Single Day
No end is in sight to the unexpected wave of Chinese nationals entering the U.S.
Quoting...
"The right thing to do never requires any subterfuge, it is always simple and direct."
- Calvin Coolidge
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Join the conversation with Texas Scorecard on any or all of our social media accounts!
The Texas Scorecard Journalism Fellowship is a comprehensive program designed for conservative Texans under the age of 25 with an interest in public policy, effective civic engagement, political accountability, and Texas history.
