Shelby Park left unexpectedly open on Sunday after almost two years of state military occupation
It was from Shelby Park that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott implemented some of the most extreme physical deterrents against migrants crossing the Rio Grande at the height of Operation Lone Star.
Editor's note: this story was updated at 9:53 PM on Sunday, April 6, 2025 to include more details about Shelby Park's condition and to more closely reflect the status of the state's occupation.
Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, was open on Sunday, with no public notice to local residents or local officials and no official word on its long-term status.
"Yes, the park is open today," Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas said. "But I’m waiting for a call because no one has told me anything yet."
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Hola, amigos! My name is Pablo De La Rosa. I'm an independent journalist based in the Rio Grande Valley, and Across The Americas is my newsletter — for and about the Texas-Mexico borderlands and the people who make their lives here.
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Across The Americas is the newsletter of independent journalism from the Rio Grande Valley, covering the Texas-Mexico region and the deep roots its people share across the continent.
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