Texas Forced to Remove Barrier Blocking Migrants in Rio Grande

A federal judge has ordered Texas Governor Greg Abbott to remove a floating barrier that the state placed in the Rio Grande River to deter illegal migrant crossings. The judge granted the Justice Department's request for a preliminary injunction, stating that Texas had violated federal law by installing the barrier without permission. The judge gave Texas until September 15 to remove the barrier and prohibited the state from constructing new barriers in the river. The Justice Department argued that the barrier violated the Rivers and Harbors Act and posed risks to health, public safety, and U.S.-Mexico relations. Texas has appealed the ruling, and Governor Abbott vowed to continue securing the border through other means.