Peach Tree Times

Amid the ongoing immigration crisis at the southern border the United States shares with Mexico, tensions seem to be on the rise.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott faces accusations of treaty violations, the Biden administration is being criticized for releasing immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally without court dates, and Mexico plans to send an inspection team to the Rio Grande to investigate whether the water barrier Abbott ordered to be installed extends into Mexican territory, according to reports.

While many Democrats and Republicans seem to be blaming others for the border crisis, Val Verde County Sherriff Joe Frank Martinez has a possible solution.

"It's, in my opinion, both parties' fault because neither one is playing by the rules," Martinez said in an interview with Tea Party Patriots. "People need to get their heads out of the sand and pay attention. It's probably going to get worse before it gets better."

Martinez has served in the sheriff’s office for the past 14 years and has witnessed the immigration challenges faced by his community in Val Verde County, Texas, according to comments made in the video. The county has a population of nearly 50,000 and spans 109 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border.

His statements highlight the complexity of the situation and reflect the frustration felt by many who are grappling with the impact of the immigration crisis daily.

One of the central figures in this blame game is Abbott, who has been accused of violating water treaties between the U.S. and Mexico, according to an NPR report.

Foreign Relations Secretary Alicia Bárcena said Mexico plans to send an inspection team to the Rio Grande to investigate whether Abbott's border barrier extends into Mexican territory, which could violate 1944 and 1970 treaties on boundaries and water, NPR reported.

The potential violation of water treaties adds a new layer of tension to the already contentious immigration debate.

Adding to Abbott's woes, the Justice Department recently sent the governor a letter demanding the removal of the buoys and razor wire along the Rio Grande by July 24 or legal action would be taken, according to Texas Public Radio.

"The state of Texas’ actions violate federal law, raise humanitarian concerns, present serious risks to public safety and the environment, and may interfere with the federal government’s ability to carry out its official duties," the letter stated.

The floating barrier “obstructs the navigable capacity of the Rio Grande ... which is a navigable water of the United States within the meaning of the Rivers and Harbors Act,” according to the letter. “Texas does not have authorization from the Corps [of Engineers] to install the floating barrier and did not seek such authorization before doing so."

Complicating the immigration crisis even further are accusations that the Biden administration has released people who enter the country illegally without a court date and without a means to track them, according to NBC News.