Biden administration officials have grown increasingly concerned over recent months about Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s measures along the Texas-Mexico border. Texas Department of Public Safety made certain portions of the border more difficult to access, marking a departure from the coordination that typically exists between law enforcement. Texas troopers were told to push back migrants into the Rio Grande and ordered not to give them water, according to reports. Abbott’s office said there have been no orders or directions given under Operation Lone Star that “would compromise the lives of those attempting to cross the border illegally” The Justice Department said it’s assessing the situation along the border – marking an escalation from an administration that for months had stopped short of taking any actions against Texas. The inspector general has received several additional complaints from DPS personnel on the front lines about the treatment of migrants trying to enter the United States, three sources familiar with the investigation told . The State Department Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Brian Nichols, told Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Democrat, that the administration was concerned about Abbott’s actions with respect to human rights. Castro also raised the issue of Governor Abbott’s barbarity at a dinner tonight with Secretary Antony Blinken, saying in a statement: “I read him the title and first paragraph of the Express-News article and urged the Administration to intervene – and to remove the death traps Abbott has installed for the sake of human rights” The DOJ spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa told on Wednesday that the department is working with DHS and other relevant agencies to assess the situation. An assessment could be the first step toward an investigation, which could lead to legal action against the state of Texas in the coming days. The Texas governor has said there has been no order or direction that would compromise the life of those trying to illegally enter the U.S., but there are reports that Texas troops have pushed migrants back to Mexico and ordered them to turn away from the border. The governor’s office has said that no orders have been given that would “compromise the lives” of those who are trying to get into the country illegally. The Obama administration has not commented on the reports of mistreatment of migrants, which have been reported by local news outlets and the Texas National Guard. The Department of Homeland Security said it is aware of the reports and is looking into the matter, but no further action has been taken at this time. The US Border Patrol has also sent regular reports to US Customs and Border Protection headquarters about what they’re observing as Abbott’s operation has been underway, another DHS official said. The latest steps taken by the state have made some day-to-day operations more challenging, a Homeland Security official told . Border agents have historically worked closely with Texas National Guards and theTexas Department of public safety. The state began sending migrants to cities nationwide without alerting them last year, and have continued with the deployment of buoys in the Rio River, which pose a potential drowning risk to migrants and now, concern over migrants.
White House and administration officials increasingly concerned about Texas governor’s border actions. White House, administration officials are concerned about the governor’s actions.
