Eagle Pass: Governor Abbott holds press conference with 14 other governors at Shelby Park speaking on the Border Crisis

By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Pictures by Robinson

National Guard soldiers lined up just before the start of the press conference

  February 4th, 2024: Texas Governor Greg Abbott has chosen Shelby Park the location the State has decided to stand its ground against the Biden Administration by calling on the Texas National Guard to keep the U.S Border Patrol out.  At this Sunday’s afternoon press conference, Abbott was joined by 14 other governors from around the United States to effectively double down on the Texas Governor’s move to take control of the Texas Border. 

  Governor Abbott said, “Since Biden has been elected, there have been three Houston’s who have crossed the border. An illegal immigrant who has gone across the Border 4 times and then murdered someone outside of Houston. There is imminent danger crossing the border all the time. I have used the laws in the constitution to help protect the states.”

  The Texas Governor cited Article 1, Section 10 Clause 3 of the U.S Constitution as the legal grounds for Texas to act to secure its border:

  • Clause 3 Acts Requiring Consent of Congress

No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.

  Abbott and several other governors including Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte and a few others each took turns after Abbott speaking on the Border Crisis and the failure of U.S President Joe Biden on securing the United States southern border with Mexico.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders speaks at the podium

Montana Governor Gianforte said, “I’m in the northern Rockies, we have seen a 78% increase in fentanyl trafficking.”

  “Not only has President Joe. Biden failed his duties but he has lied about it. We don’t stand with them in football but we stand with the State of Texas on the Border Crisis”” Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.


  Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said, “This experiment in open border policy has been a devastating failure.”


  Covering the Governor’s press conference were dozens of reporters representing state, national and world news outlets. Reporters who were granted access to Shelby Park and the press conference were required to RSVP the Governor’s media office by Friday, February 2nd no later than 5 PM. There were a number of reporters who were permitted to enter.

  Outside of the Press Conference about a block from Shelby Park, protesters were situated on the sidewalks and street corners where the governors’ entourage would be passing by on its way out of the park.

  Those protests in favor of closing the border and supporters of Presidential Candidate Donald Trump stood on opposite street corners of those who were against the Texas Governor’s Border Policies. Of those included several members of the Brown Berets. The protests appeared to remain peaceful. 

Unidenifed news reporter gets her camera set up for the press conference
Reporters at the Governor's press conference
Protestors against the Texas Governor's Border Policies
Pro-Trump supporter
Downtown Eagle Pass Protestors