Texas State Representative Eddie Morales Jr. refers to caravan participants as “far-right agitators” implying Eagle Pass IBC Bank robbery connection

By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Top Picture is from Texas Representative Eddie Morales Jr. Campaign Facebook Page

  On Saturday, February 3rd, the Eagle Pass Police Department reported on its Facebook Page the IBC Bank located inside HEB was robbed. 

  The EPPD is currently investigating a reported robbery of the IBC Bank located inside HEB. A male suspect involved fled the area east towards the area of Stanley, Ralph, Edna and Lorilee Streets. Officers are actively searching this area for the suspect. It does not appear that a weapon was used but we ask the citizens in these neighborhoods to please be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the EPPD at (830) 773-9044 or in case of an emergency please dial 911.

  On the same day, The Take Our Borders Back Convoy was enroute making its way to the Cornerstone Children’s Ranch in Quemado from Dripping Springs, Texas. According to J. Anson Bills, the manager of the Cornerstone Children’s Ranch, the Convoy was over 5 1/2 miles long and over 2000 people arrived at the Ranch. 

 Texas State Representative District 74 Eddie Morales Jr. issued a statement on February 3rd  on his Campaign Facebook Page  implying a possible connection between the caravan and  the bank robbery perpetrator may have been involved in the aforementioned Convoy.  It a statement he said, 

“In lieu of the current standoff facilitated by Governor Abbott at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, far-right agitators made their way to Eagle Pass in a convoy. Upon their arrival in our peaceful community, we experienced a bank robbery with the suspect still at large; and an unrelated arrest in the evening of a far-right extremist with ties to the convoy with an outstanding warrant and an extensive criminal past including a previous murder arrest.

  This crisis has burdened our local and state law enforcement, and these far-right agitators are complicating border enforcement efforts by acting as vigilantes attempting to secure the border themselves. Regrettably, Texas’s top elected officials encouraged these agitators to come to our communities knowing they would cause disruption and chaos.

  Let me be clear: We do NOT need these far-right extremists fraught with criminal histories and anti-immigrant hate in our community complicating border security efforts. It is incumbent upon our state leaders to make that known. In the words of the former President, ‘They’re not sending their best. . . They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems to us. . . They’re bringing crime.'”

On that same Saturday at 4 PM, the EPPD posted the a statement from the Eagle Pass Emergency Operations Center: ” The City of Eagle Pass and Maverick County would like to inform our citizens that with the recent arrival of different groups and organizations to our community in regards to the border situation, we as a City and County are responding to and monitoring the situation accordingly.” The statement continued with, “The current state of the situation is peaceful and it will be continuously monitored.”

 Bills responded to Morales accusations stating the IBC Bank Robbery in Eagle Pass occurred that Saturday afternoon well before the Caravan even arrived at the Cornerstone Children’s Ranch.

 Bills went on to say that others posting on Facebook have accused Convoy participants of robbing  a church food pantry in Quemado where the Convoy is rallying.  Bills disputes the claim stating the only food bank in Quamado is located at the Cornerstone Children’s Ranch.