The Texas border city caught in a constitutional crisis

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) is in a standoff with the U.S. government over who controls the Texas border with Mexico. That fight has centered on the border city of Eagle Pass, where Abbott has seized a park and is testing the limits of the Constitution  

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Eagle Pass, Tex., is a small border city that in recent weeks has been mired in a bitter standoff between Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and the federal government. In an effort to deter migrants from crossing the border from Mexico to Eagle Pass, Abbott seized a local park and covered barriers with coils of razor wire. That has put him at odds with President Biden and the Department of Homeland Security, who claim Abbott does not have jurisdiction over the southern border. 

In January, the Supreme Court ruled that federal agents were allowed to cut through the razor wire installed by Abbott’s administration, but the governor has remained defiant, raising constitutional questions about how much power the Texas governor has to secure the border of the state. 

Arelis Hernández joins us today to explain the origin of this standoff and provide us with a firsthand look at how both state and federal immigration policies are affecting the residents of Eagle Pass. 

Our colleagues at The Washington Post are monitoring right-wing protests expected in Eagle Pass over the weekend. Follow our coverage at washingtonpost.com.

Today’s show was produced by Arjun Singh. It was mixed by Sean Carter. And edited by Lucy Perkins and Monica Campbell. Thanks also to Christine Armario.