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Texas Trooper Emailed Boss To Warn Of ‘Inhumane’ Razor Wire ‘Traps’ At Border: Report

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Texas Trooper Emailed Boss To Warn Of ‘Inhumane’ Razor Wire ‘Traps’ At Border: Report


An officer working at Texas’ southern border with Mexico emailed his superior expressing deep concerns that efforts to prevent migrants from crossing into the U.S. had “stepped over a line into the inhumane” earlier this month, according to a shocking account published by the San Antonio Express-News.

The unnamed trooper, who works for Texas’ Department of Public Safety, described troubling orders to prevent asylum seekers from crossing the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas, in recent months. State officials have drawn sharp criticism after deploying miles of floating barricades covered in razor wire on the river, an initiative the officer likened to “traps” meant to snare migrants.

The email details multiple troubling incidents in which migrants were caught or injured by the razor wire.

In one instance, a 19-year-old woman “in obvious pain” was found stuck in the wire before she was cut free. Medical officials determined she was pregnant and having a miscarriage. At another point, troopers treated a man with a “significant laceration” on his leg that he sustained while trying to free his child from a “trap in the water” covered in razor wire.

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The email also details a moment on June 25 when a shift officer ordered troopers to push a large group of people — including small children and babies that were nursing — back into the Rio Grande “to go to Mexico.” Troopers on site resisted the order after they expressed concern the exhausted migrants could drown, and they were later ordered to tell the group to go back to Mexico before leaving the site.

The trooper also alluded to an order to prevent officers from providing water to migrants, although Texas officials have denied any such mandate exists.

“Due to the extreme heat, the order to not give people water needs to be immediately reversed as well,” the trooper wrote, suggesting a series of policy changes to protect migrants’ safety. The officer later added: “I believe we have stepped over a line into the inhumane.”

HuffPost has reached out to Texas’ DPS for comment on the report.

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Migrants trying to enter the U.S. from Mexico approach the site where workers are assembling large buoys to be used as a barrier along the banks of the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas, on July 11.

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Travis Considine, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety, told the Express-News that the agency was aware of the email and that its director, Steven McCraw, called for an audit last Saturday into lowering risk for migrants. McCraw also sent another email to troopers saying the wire, a key feature of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) border measures, was meant to deter smuggling, “not to injure migrants.”

“The smugglers care not if the migrants are injured, but we do, and we must take all necessary measures to mitigate the risk to them including injuries from trying to cross over the concertina wire, drownings and dehydration,” the message said.

Abbott has taken dramatic steps to prevent migrants from crossing the state’s border with Mexico, lambasting President Joe Biden for failing to do enough to stop a surge of crossings. The governor also has dropped off thousands of migrants in cities across the nation, mainly in states led by Democratic officials, in an act that human rights groups have blasted as inhumane.

The report brought swift condemnation from Democrats. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) called the razor wire barriers “death traps” on Twitter, saying he had urged the Biden administration to intervene “for the sake of human rights.”

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Austin weather: Slight risk for severe storms in Central Texas

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Austin weather: Slight risk for severe storms in Central Texas


Rainy, stormy and cooler times are ahead and all the ingredients are coming together for the best chances of rain we have seen in the last two months. 

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A cold front along with a potent upper low will collide with the warmth and moisture to turn on the spotty light rain during the day and heavy rain and storms tonight. 

There is a marginal to slight risk of severe storms and localized flooding. 

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After the front pushes through, the weather will be wonderful for Election Day with sunny, cooler and drier conditions. Then here comes the next Pacific low to bring back the clouds and rain by the end of the week.

Buckle up, the weather pattern is turning very active all of a sudden.

Most of the rain and storms will happen tonight. The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded us to a SLIGHT risk of severe storms. This means isolated severe storms are possible generating moderate sized hail and damaging winds. 

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Two rounds of storms are possible:

  • First round: 3 – 5pm (isolated coverage)
  • Second round: 6pm – 12am (numerous coverage)

Threats will be quarter sized hail, wind gusts of 50 – 60mph and there will be a low tornado risk.

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The highest risk for hail will be along I-35 corridor and the highest risk of damaging winds from Austin to La Grange.

Rain totals are expected to be about .5 to 1″ with isolated spots possibly getting 1-2″.

Minor flooding with low-water crossings possible.

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Where can I watch the College Football Playoff rankings for Texas A&M football?

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Where can I watch the College Football Playoff rankings for Texas A&M football?


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Texas A&M football may have lost on Saturday to South Carolina, but they’re still in the running for one of the 12 spots in the College Football Playoff.

The Aggies are one of five teams in the Southeastern Conference with one conference loss. LSU, Alabama, Georgia and Texas also have one loss, opening the teams to some very complex tiebreaking scenarios.

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This Tuesday, the CFP selection committee will release its first edition of the weekly rankings and the first projection of the playoff. Texas A&M is currently ranked 10th in the AP Poll and 11th in the US LBM Coaches Poll, but their recent loss should send them a ways down the standings.

Texas A&M running back Le’Veon Moss suffered an injury to his right leg in the first quarter versus South Carolina, pushing Amari Daniels into the starting role. Texas A&M coach Mike Elko says that Marcel Reed is the “starter now” after the game versus South Carolina, but the redshirt freshman committed multiple turnovers against the Gamecocks.

Texas A&M still has to face New Mexico State, Auburn and Texas. Even with the upcoming projections, there are a lot of different ways this could all play out.

Here’s everything you need to know about the CFP rankings reveal:

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How to watch College Football Playoff rankings show

The College Football Playoff rankings show will air on ESPN, with the broadcast starting at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Fans can also stream the show on Fubo, which is offering a free trial.

College Football Playoff rankings release date

The first rankings will be announced on Nov. 5 A new rankings will be released every Tuesday through Dec. 5.

What time is CFP rankings?

The broadcast will start at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday.

Texas A&M football CFP rankings projection

Coming into Week 10, ESPN’s CFP Playoff predictor had Texas A&M with a 47% chance to make the playoff, but it hasn’t updated with the recent loss. Those odds fall to less than 40% after the defeat, per pregame projections.

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If the Aggies win out and make the SEC title game, ESPN has them as the third-seed with a first-round bye, facing either sixth-seed Georgia or 11th-seed Tennessee.

Losing the title game would give Texas A&M a 67% chance to make the playoff as the 12th-seed. They would face fifth-seed Notre Dame in the first round. If the Aggies lose to the Longhorns in their final game of the season, their odds drop to 13%.

How many teams in College Football Playoff 2024?

There will be 12 participating teams in the College Football Playoff bracket. The teams will consist of the five conference champions ranked highest by the CFP selection committee, and the next seven highest-ranked teams.

How does College Football Playoff format work?

The four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded one through four and receive a first-round bye. The fifth conference champion will be seeded where it was ranked or at No. 12 if it is outside the top 12 in the CFP rankings. Non-conference champions ranked in the top four will be seeded beginning at No. 5.

Follow the American-Statesman on Facebook and X for more. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Get access to all of our best content with this tremendous offer.

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Texas sees record early voting numbers as poll workers protect the integrity of the process

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Texas sees record early voting numbers as poll workers protect the integrity of the process


HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Millions of Texans will head to the polls on Tuesday, but almost half of all registered voters in the Lone Star state have already cast their ballots.

After a much-criticized election in 2022, Harris County eliminated the election administrator position and returned the authority to the county clerk, Teneshia Hudspeth. She said they are well prepared for Tuesday’s vote.

“It is going to be interesting. It is an important time in our country,” poll worker Garfield Teixeira said.

Teixeria has served on the front lines in more ways than one.

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First, she served in the army for 22 years, but now, she’s on the front lines of democracy.

“We’re like Santa’s helpers. We’re like elves,” Teixeira said.

To Teixeira, a polling center is one of Santa’s many workshops.

She’s been helping out in Brazoria County during early voting.

“Friday, we had a lot of first-time voters. We welcomed them, and we tell them we should have a bell. Like, when you buy a car, to ring, to acknowledge them,” Teixeira said.

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So far, 8.9 million Texans have voted early, including in-person and mail-in ballots. That’s about 47% of the 18.6 million registered voters.

It is less than the vote percentage in 2020, about 57%, but due to the pandemic, we had an extra week of early voting.

“The turnout has been tremendous,” Teixeira said.

Scrutiny of the election process has grown more intense, increasing the pressure on poll workers to perform flawlessly.

“I always pull up my information and refresh myself because… from one election to another. That is a big span of time,” Shaikil Grisham, who worked as a poll worker before moving to Texas, said.

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Election monitors are tools used by the Department of Justice to keep an eye on any violations.

On Friday, top Texas election officials informed the DOJ that election monitors are not allowed in Texas polling places.

The agency had originally announced plans to dispatch machines to eight Texas counties.

The Texas secretary of state will send monitors to Harris County. The County welcomes those monitors as it has in previous elections.

For updates on this story, follow Alex Bozarjian on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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