In a stern letter obtained exclusively by CNN on Sunday, the Biden administration has given Texas until the end of Wednesday to cease their actions of blocking the US Border Patrol's access to a 2.5-mile stretch along the US-Mexico border. The targeted area includes the location where a woman and two children tragically drowned last week after state authorities barred federal agents from the zone. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) letter deemed Texas' actions unconstitutional and warned of potential legal consequences.

The DHS letter, addressed to Texas' Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, stated that the state's actions had hindered operations and cited the recent deaths near a city park adjacent to the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass. The area has been cordoned off by state authorities with fencing, denying access to federal agents. If Texas does not confirm its willingness to "cease and desist" its efforts and remove barriers impeding Border Patrol access by the Wednesday deadline, the matter will be referred to the Department of Justice for appropriate action.

According to the letter from Department of Homeland Security General Counsel Jonathan Meyer, Texas' failure to provide access to the border, even during situations endangering lives, is alarming. The Biden administration accuses Texas of consistently preventing Border Patrol from conducting law enforcement and emergency response activities along the border.

This latest development reflects the growing tensions between state and federal officials as the White House and lawmakers challenge Texas' immigration policies, including a new law that criminalizes illegal entry into the state. The dispute has extended beyond Texas, as states receiving migrants from Texas or where migrants have independently migrated face their own challenges. Anti-migrant rhetoric has surged online as a result.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration has asked the Supreme Court to intervene in a lawsuit filed by Texas against Border Patrol agents' removal of razor wire installed by the state near Eagle Pass. An appeals court had ordered Border Patrol to halt the removal pending legal proceedings, and the administration now seeks the Supreme Court's involvement on an emergency basis.

The recent drownings near Eagle Pass highlight Texas' determination to maintain control of the border and restrict Border Patrol access, even during emergencies, according to the Biden administration's filing to the Supreme Court. The administration argues that had Border Patrol been allowed access, they could have potentially taken steps to fulfill their responsibilities and assist Mexican authorities in the rescue mission.

In response, the Texas Military Department stated that by the time Border Patrol agents requested access to the site where the drownings took place, the bodies had already been recovered by Mexican authorities, and no distressed migrants were observed along the river during that time. The department emphasized that it was unaware of any bodies found on the US side of the border.

The standoff between federal and state authorities in Texas has led to a group of individuals, known for their use of demonizing rhetoric and connections to extremist movements, calling for protests in Eagle Pass on social media. However, Texas state Representative Eddie Morales Jr., a Democrat, urged these individuals to focus their efforts on demanding action from Congress instead of misinformed protests on border security and immigration policy.

As tensions escalate, Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber expressed concerns about the safety and security of the area due to the heated rhetoric on immigration, particularly from extremist groups.

In a separate development, Louisiana's new Republican governor has issued an executive order directing state agencies to report any arrests or funds spent on undocumented immigrants. The governor aims to analyze the financial burden imposed on hardworking Louisianans due to individuals who break the law. The executive order mandates regular publication of data on arrests, convictions, and any known or suspected gang affiliations of arrested undocumented immigrants.

As the migration surge at the US-Mexico border continues to overwhelm authorities, the clash between state and federal officials raises concerns about effective border management and the need for comprehensive immigration reform.