Jessie Fuentes sued the State of Texas in 2023 over Gov. Greg Abbott’s installation of buoys within the Rio Grande.
EAGLE PASS, Texas — As President Donald Trump carries out his executive orders targeting immigration, those living along the border are wondering what’s next.
“If you live on the border, you know the border,” said Jessie Fuentes, a small business owner who lives in Eagle Pass.
It was back in 2023 when Fuentes sued the State of Texas over Gov. Greg Abbott’s implementation of buoys in the Rio Grande. Fuentes claimed the floating barriers, which Abbott intended to help deter illegal border crossings, actually disrupted his kayak business and threatened the environment.
Fast forward two years and Fuentes remains disturbed but this time by listening to stories of fear from the local migrant community following the recent slate of federal executive orders. He’s also bothered by the increased military and law enforcement presence along the border during a time where border crossings are at an all-time low.
“I’m just saddened from an environmental standpoint, from a human rights standpoint, from a civil rights standpoint,” Fuentes said. “A lot of individuals that are scared. There’s a lot of families that are hesitant to send their children to school. Some crops that haven’t been picked up from the fields because they’re afraid.”
In addition to amped up ICE raids, which federal officials stress are targeting violent offenders first, one of Fuentes’ most prominent concerns stems from the Trump administration’s executive order to end asylum protections at the border. The ACLU is among the organizations now suing the federal government in response, citing the legal importance of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
“We have protections for refugees that are fleeing persecution and that’s well established and what he’s doing is cruel and inhumane.”
At this time, Fuentes has not ruled out pursuing further legal action against the State when it comes to immigration related issues he deems unjust.