The Biden administration sued Texas for trying to block the US-Mexican border along the Rio Grande River.
Washington:
Texas Governor Greg Abbott defied the administration of President Joe Biden on Monday as the Justice Department sued his state for trying to block the US-Mexican border with a floating barrier and razor wire along the Rio Grande River.
The department told the state late last week that the string of large orange buoys near Eagle Pass, Texas, illegally obstructed river navigation and lacked a federal permit.
“This floating barrier poses a danger to navigation and public safety and presents humanitarian concerns,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta.
But in a reply letter addressed to Biden on Monday, Abbott said he has the power to protect the “sovereign” interests of Texas by installing the plows.
He accused Biden of not meeting his responsibilities to stem the flow of migrants along the southern border with Mexico.
Abbott wrote, “If you really care about human life, you should start enforcing federal immigration laws.”
He said, “By doing this, you can help me prevent migrants from risking their lives in the waters of the Rio Grande River.”
He said, “Texas will see you in court, Mr. President.”
Strings of buoys were installed this month along with large barriers of razor wire along the banks in the river at the popular migrant crossing point.
According to reports, some migrants have needed rescue after getting entangled in razor wire.
A Biden administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Republicans are “playing political games” with immigration.
Republican hardliners have spent years stoking fear over what they often call an invasion of illegal immigrants. Donald Trump and his main rival for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, have claimed out-of-control border crossings at the center of their campaigns.
However, the White House says the number of illegal crossings has declined in the wake of stricter new asylum rules.
The administration official said, “Republican officials don’t want a solution. They want chaos.”
Hours after Abbott’s letter was released, the Justice Department filed the lawsuit in federal court in Austin, Texas.
It said the barrier violated the American Rivers and Ports Act, which establishes protections for public waterways under the supervision of the Army Corps of Engineers.
The lawsuit stated that Texas required permission from the Army Corps of Engineers to erect any structures or barriers in the Rio Grande.
The Justice Department asked the court to order Abbott to remove the obstruction.
Jaime Esparza, federal prosecutor in Austin, said, “We must all recognize that both domestic and international laws and policies are in place to ensure the safety of everyone who works, lives and travels along the river. These laws cannot be ignored.”
In addition, a leaked US Customs and Border Protection memo stated that razor wire placed by state agents interfered with their own Border Patrol operations.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV Staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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