Texas Forced to Remove Floating Border Barriers as Judge Grants Biden Administration's Request

A federal judge in Austin has ordered Texas to remove floating border barriers that were assembled along the U.S.-Mexico border, granting a request from the Biden administration. The judge issued a preliminary injunction directing Texas officials to remove the barriers from the middle of the Rio Grande by September 15, at the state's own expense. The judge found that the barriers obstructed free navigation in the river and violated federal laws governing waterways. The Biden administration argued that Texas needed permission from the federal government to set up the barriers and that they impeded Border Patrol agents, endangered migrants, and harmed U.S.-Mexico relations. Texas plans to appeal the ruling.