The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of the Biden administration, allowing federal officials to cut or remove parts of a concertina-wire barrier along the Mexican border that Texas erected to prevent migrants from entering the state. This decision marks a victory for the administration in its ongoing dispute with Texas Governor Greg Abbott over border policy, with the court lifting an appeals court ruling that had generally prohibited the administration from removing the wire.
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has decided to rehear the case regarding Texas's river border buoys, allowing the barrier to remain in place for now. The decision to grant an en banc hearing, which is rare, means the entire court will reconsider the case in May. The controversial barrier, deployed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, has faced legal challenges and criticism for obstructing U.S. waterways and endangering migrants crossing the river to seek asylum.
Texas has erected new barriers along its border with Mexico, blocking U.S. Border Patrol access to a city park near Eagle Pass, sparking a conflict with the Biden administration over migration control. Governor Greg Abbott has been implementing his own border controls, including busing migrants to Democratic strongholds, and the state has added concertina wire and fencing to deter illegal crossings. The Biden administration has asked the Supreme Court to allow Border Patrol agents to remove the controversial wire fencing, while migrant arrests at the border have recently dropped after surpassing 10,000 per day in mid-December.
A federal appeals court has ruled that Texas must remove a floating barrier on the Rio Grande, which was intended to deter migrants from entering the US illegally. The court's decision requires Texas to stop any work on the barrier and move it to the riverbank. This ruling comes as a blow to Republican Governor Greg Abbott's efforts to secure the border. The court's decision follows a federal judge's ruling earlier in the week allowing US Border Patrol agents to continue cutting razor wire installed by Texas along the riverbank. Texas plans to seek a rehearing from the court and is prepared to take the case to the Supreme Court if necessary.
A federal judge in Texas has ruled that a floating border barrier in the Rio Grande River, ordered by Governor Greg Abbott without proper federal authorization, violates federal law and must be removed. The judge granted the Biden administration's request for a temporary injunction, giving Texas until September 15 to move the barrier to shore and prohibiting the state from placing additional buoys or structures in the river. Abbott plans to appeal the ruling, but Democrats and immigrant advocates have praised the decision. The ruling highlights the clash between political rhetoric and legal realities surrounding immigration policies.
The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Texas and Governor Greg Abbott over the construction of a floating barrier in the Rio Grande River, which the state claims will deter migrants but the Biden administration argues is a threat to public safety. The lawsuit alleges that Abbott violated the law by building structures without authorization and seeks to require Texas officials to remove the barrier at the state's expense. Abbott has refused to comply with the Justice Department's request to take down the barricade, stating that enforcing laws against illegal immigration is necessary to protect migrants from harm. The lawsuit also examines complaints that Texas state troopers were ordered to push migrants back into the water, including children.
The Justice Department has informed Texas that it plans to take legal action against the state over the placement of floating barriers in the Rio Grande as part of its border operation. The department argues that Texas's actions violate federal law, raise humanitarian concerns, and interfere with the federal government's duties. This is separate from the ongoing assessment of mistreatment of migrants. Over 80 Democratic lawmakers have also urged President Biden to investigate Texas Governor Greg Abbott's border policies, citing alleged inhumane treatment of migrants and violations of international treaties. The Texas Department of Public Safety's inspector general has received additional complaints about the treatment of migrants.
A 4-year-old boy was dropped over a border barrier in San Diego, prompting agents to rush to his aid. However, they came under fire from unknown assailants. The boy was taken to a hospital and is reportedly in good health. The incident highlights the dangers of illegal immigration and child endangerment, as well as the risks faced by law enforcement officials.
