Thread by @TexasTribune

1/ Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state police to pull over vehicles transporting migrants who pose a risk of carrying COVID-19 and reroute them back to their origin point.

Advocates and lawyers say this is an invitation for racial profiling. bit.ly/3rF4jmK

2/ Abbott cited concern about COVID-19 in a statement.

But he will not allow local government officials to issue mask mandates even as coronavirus infections are again increasing across the state. bit.ly/3rF4jmK

3/ Kate Huddleston, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, said in a statement that Abbott’s order "continues a long, racist history of placing blame for the spread of disease onto immigrants and communities at the border." bit.ly/3rF4jmK

4/ Abbott, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other GOP officials have been describing immigrants crossing the border as "an invasion" — language that mirrors that of the accused El Paso shooter.

The 2019 shooting at the El Paso Walmart left 23 people dead. bit.ly/3rF0AWx

5/ Officials in the Rio Grande Valley have grown frustrated with immigrants being released from Border Patrol custody into shelters because they fear it could spread COVID-19.

They also say they want more authority to issue their own COVID-19 safety orders.

6/ Currently, the Biden administration is turning back many migrants under Title 42, which allows agents to make migrants return to Mexico because of the risk of spreading COVID-19. bit.ly/3rF4jmK

7/ Border Patrol officials release some migrants to shelters where they stay temporarily until they can get a bus ride or a plane ticket to their families in the U.S.

If migrants are released, it usually means they can stay in the country as their legal cases are pending.

8/ With this order, advocates fear that volunteers helping migrants get to their final destination would be targeted by state troopers.

“That’s unheard of and it's blatantly unconstitutional,” said one immigration expert and advocate. bit.ly/3rF4jmK

9/9 The governor’s office did not respond to emailed questions about how troopers would implement this order.

A spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety also didn’t answer questions.

Photo by Jason Garza. bit.ly/3rF4jmK