Abbott vows to defy Biden over Fronton Island dismantling

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has pledged to resist the Biden administration following a federal directive to dismantle structures on an island that local authorities claim has become a hub for Mexican drug cartels.

In a letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris on Monday, Abbott stated that the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (U.S. IBWC) instructed the Texas General Land Office (GLO) to revert Fronton Island to its “pre-construction conditions.”

Fronton Island, a 170-acre area on the Rio Grande border between the U.S. and Mexico, has reportedly been a site of cartel activities, including gunfights and illegal immigration.

Abbott detailed the situation, noting that for years, cartels exploited the island’s dense vegetation and damaged structures to stage illegal crossings, monitor law enforcement, hide weapons, plant explosives, avoid capture, and engage in conflicts with rival cartels and authorities.

Authorities once discovered an arsenal on the island, including six assault rifles, a grenade launcher, a rocket launcher, multiple ammunition magazines, and three packages of what appeared to be C-4 explosives. On another occasion, Texas soldiers found an improvised explosive device buried with other weapons and ammunition.

Recently, the Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Rangers received permission from local authorities to patrol the island.

Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham emphasised the importance of law enforcement access to the island amidst the border crisis, citing past discoveries of ammunition and suspicious devices.

In 2021, Abbott initiated Operation Lone Star to counteract illegal immigration and drug trafficking from Mexico. This operation involved the Texas National Guard and law enforcement setting up barriers such as razor wire fences and floating buoys on the Rio Grande.

Abbott mentioned that the GLO built two sediment bridges, installed concertina wire, and cleared vegetation on the island. The U.S. IBWC, a joint body of the U.S. and Mexican governments, claims the island is federal land, but Abbott asserts it belongs to Texas.

Abbott criticised the Biden administration’s border policies, accusing them of fostering criminal activity that endangers Texas law enforcement and citizens. He argued that the federal government has neglected to enforce laws, even in hazardous areas like Fronton Island.

Fox News Digital attempted to contact Abbott’s office, the White House, and the IBWC for comments.

The dispute between Abbott and the Biden administration intensified when Texas secured the island in October, citing its use by drug cartels. Abbott declared on social media that Texas will not comply with demands to restore the island to its previous state.