Mayor says Texas closed park without permission in border city where migrant crossings had climbed

By VALERIE GONZALEZ
Associated Press

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — The mayor of a Texas border city at the center of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s aggressive measures to curb migrant crossings says state troopers have closed a large public park along the Rio Grande. Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas said Texas closed access to Shelby Park without input from local officials. Both U.S. Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson have toured Eagle Pass this month. When asked about the closure, a spokesperson for Abbott did not address the park closure and instead reiterated criticism of President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.