Texas has until this Wednesday to stop blocking federal access to several kilometers of the US-Mexico border.

Eagle Pass, Texas (CNN) — The wave of migrants continues to overwhelm officials at the border between Mexico and the United States and in American cities where many asylum seekers are sent.

These are the latest developments:

The Biden administration gave Texas until the end of Wednesday to stop blocking US Border Patrol access to 2.5 miles of the US-Mexico border that includes the area where a woman and two children drowned after state authorities barred federal agents from the area last week. A letter to the Department of Homeland Security obtained exclusively by CNN on Sunday.

The letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, says the state’s actions have “obstructed operations” and are unconstitutional, and cites the death — among the latest in the current immigration crisis — near a city park. Pass, where state authorities have erected a fence and kept federal agents out.

The Department of Homeland Security warns that if Texas does not confirm it will “refer the matter to the Department of Justice for consideration of appropriate action and all other available options to restore Border Patrol access to the border” to block Border Patrol access in and around the Shelby Park area. Their efforts and will remove all barriers to access to the US-Mexico border,” the letter said.

“Texas’ failure to provide border access even in cases of imminent threat to life and safety continues,” the letter from Department of Homeland Security General Counsel Jonathan Meyer said.

“Texas has demonstrated that, even under the most demanding circumstances, it will not allow Border Patrol access to the border to conduct law enforcement and emergency response activities.”

Wednesday’s deadline is the latest sign of rising tensions between state and federal authorities as the White House and lawmakers question Texas’ policies, including a new law that makes illegal entry into the state a state crime. Friction over the issue has also spread to states where Texas authorities have sent immigrants or to whom they arrived by other means, and anti-immigrant rhetoric has increased online.

The Supreme Court also weighs border access

The Biden administration has also asked the Supreme Court to intervene after Texas sued over Border Patrol agents’ practice of removing razor wire placed by the state along a section of the border near Eagle Pass. An appeals court ordered officials to stop removing the fence while legal appeals are resolved, and the administration has asked the high court to intervene immediately to overturn that order.

Friday’s sinking “underscores that Texas remains steadfast in its efforts to exercise full border and land control…and to block Border Patrol access even in emergency situations,” the Biden administration wrote in a brief filed with the Supreme Court late Monday. In connection with that case.

“It is impossible to know what would have happened if the Border Patrol, including its surveillance trucks, had gained access to the area,” Attorney General Elizabeth Prelogger wrote in the brief.

“At the very least, however, the Border Patrol would have had the opportunity to take all available steps to fulfill its responsibilities and assist its counterparts in the Mexican government in conducting the rescue mission,” he continued. “Texas made it impossible.”

The Texas Military Department, for its part, said that by the time Border Patrol agents requested access to the site Friday night, “the drownings had occurred, Mexican authorities were extricating the bodies, and Texas Patrol” Fronteriza relayed these facts to TMD. . personnel on site.”

The Texas Military Department (TMD) stated, “At no time did TMD security personnel along the river observe any migrants in distress, nor did TMD return any illegal immigrants from the US during this period. name). “Additionally, TMD was never made aware of any bodies in the Shelby Park area, nor was TMD made aware of any bodies found on the US side of the border regarding this situation.”

Far-right words used to call the frontier

The standoff between the federal government and the state of Texas at the border has led members of a group known to use demonic rhetoric and mingling with extremists to call on people on social media to travel to Eagle Pass as a sign of protest.

The group is urging “patriots” from across the country to come to Eagle Pass “to demand elected officials uphold their oaths to defend the border against ‘foreign aggression,'” according to a member’s online video, using the term far-right groups Border Crisis. Use to refer.

An owner will let the group set up tents, caravans and motorhomes, he says.

Yet these “patriots” have been misinformed about border security and immigration policy, says Texas State Representative Eddie Morales Jr., a Democrat who represents 11 West Texas counties, including the city of Eagle Pass. Instead, they should camp out outside Congress and demand lawmakers on immigration, he said.

“Republicans control the House of Representatives right now, if they are really interested in solving this problem, they will be rushing the border immigration and border security bill by tomorrow,” Morales said.

Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber is monitoring the possible arrival of people from across the country this weekend and is concerned about the safety of the area due to heavy rhetoric on immigration, he told CNN.

Groups like this one that use “Patriot” as part of their name have sprung up in an effort to make Donald Trump a third major political party since 2020, the Anti-Defamation League told CNN in a statement. While such groups are not inherently extremist, they share rhetoric, far-right political causes and sometimes intersect with extremist groups and movements, he said.

The new Republican governor wants reports on undocumented immigrants

One state away, Louisiana’s new Republican governor has ordered state agencies to report any detentions of undocumented immigrants or funds spent on them, according to an executive order signed Friday.

“The cost of illegal immigration to this state is falling squarely on the shoulders of Louisiana workers,” Gov. Jeff Landry said in a statement Tuesday. “This decree will analyze data to determine the financial burden our citizens are being forced to bear due to non-compliance.”

“Louisiana will always welcome those who immigrate legally, but taxpayers can no longer foot the bill for individuals who break the law and break the law.”

Gov. Jeff Landry speaks Monday during the opening of a special legislative session in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Credit: Michael Johnson/Pool/The Advocate/AP

The executive branch heads of each state must report to the governor’s office within 120 days details of any use of public funds “directly or indirectly, for or for the benefit of illegal aliens,” the order said.

The governor directs the commissioner of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections and the superintendent of the Louisiana State Police to submit monthly reports on the number of people “charged or convicted of a felony” and to indicate whether they are documented or undocumented. As per order.

It is also “regularly published” to inform authorities of “arrests and convictions of illegal aliens,” their nationalities, the crimes they have committed, the crimes they have been charged or convicted of, and any “known affiliations” or alleged “gangs.” ” has been ordered. ” Undocumented Immigrants Detained and Locations Where They Were Arrested.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

— CNN’s Melissa Alonso, Devan Cole and Priscilla Alvarez contributed to this report.