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Texas Governor Greg Abbott has pledged to keep advocating for his state’s authority to protect its southern border. His commitment follows the Supreme Court’s decision on Monday, which favored the Biden administration to allow federal authorities to remove the razor wire Texas had placed to deter illegal immigration.
Texas set up approximately 30 miles of razor wire along its southern border, only for the U.S. Border Patrol to frequently cut through it, facilitating the entry of illegal immigrants.
In response, Texas initiated legal action against the Biden administration, as reported by NBC News. The lawsuit claims the federal government committed trespassing and damaged state property.
On Monday, in a close 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court approved an urgent petition from the Biden administration, permitting agents to cut through the razor wire. The federal government argued that the barrier was obstructing their access to illegal immigrants who had successfully crossed the border.
“This is not over,” Abbott responded to the ruling. “Texas’ razor wire is an effective deterrent to the illegal crossings Biden encourages. I will continue to defend Texas’ constitutional authority to secure the border and prevent the Biden Admin from destroying our property.”
Today, Texas National Guard is busy putting up more razor wire and barriers at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass Texas. pic.twitter.com/9zzgn8BYOk
— Charlotte Cuthbertson (@charlottecuthbo) January 23, 2024
The governor also reposted a statement from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) spokesman Chris Olivarez, who said state authorities will continue to use “reinforced concertina wire & anti-climb barriers” to help stop the flow of illegal immigrants.
“The State of Texas, under Gov. @GregAbbott_TX’s Operation Lone Star, will maintain its current posture in deterring illegal border crossings by utilizing effective border security measures – reinforced concertina wire & anti-climb barriers along the Rio Grande,” Olivarez wrote. “The logical concern should be why the Federal Government continues to hinder Texas’ ability to protect its border, all while allowing for the exploitation, dangerous, & inhumane methods of permitting illegal immigrants, including children, to illegally cross a dangerous river where many have lost their lives. Texas is the only state using every strategy & resource to protect its sovereignty, combat criminal activity, & discourage illegal immigration. Texas will continue to hold the line.”
In the 5-4 decision, Justices John Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett, appointed by Republicans, aligned with the Supreme Court’s three liberal justices. This ruling, however, is not conclusive; it temporarily permits Border Patrol agents to cut through the concertina wire while legal proceedings are ongoing. The full case is still under consideration by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which is set to conduct oral arguments on February 7.
Since Joe Biden became president three years ago, Customs and Border Protection has encountered approximately eight million illegal immigrants. During this period, the federal government has allowed over 2.3 million illegal immigrants to enter the country.
