Texas Governor Greg Abbott Faces Lawsuit Over Controversial Floating Barrier on Rio Grande
AUSTIN, Texas — The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Texas Governor Greg Abbott over the installation of a floating barrier on the Rio Grande. This aggressive move by the Republican governor is aimed at deterring migrants from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. The lawsuit, presented in front of a federal judge in Austin, seeks to compel Texas to remove the line of bright orange buoys, which are approximately 1,000 feet long and raise concerns about the environment and humanitarian issues. The suit argues that Texas unlawfully constructed the barrier without authorization between the border towns of Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, Mexico.
These buoys represent the latest escalation in Texas’ border security operation, known as Operation Lone Star, which also includes razor-wire fencing, arresting trespassing migrants, and transporting asylum-seekers to Democratic-led cities in other states. Critics have long questioned the effectiveness of this two-year operation, and recent reports of injuries to migrants resulting from these measures have increased scrutiny even further.
Anticipating the lawsuit, Governor Abbott sent a letter to President Joe Biden earlier on Monday, asserting Texas’ right to install the barrier. He accused the President of jeopardizing the safety of migrants by not taking stronger actions to discourage them from attempting the journey to the U.S. Abbott concluded the letter by stating, “Texas will see you in court, Mr. President.”
The Biden administration has stated that illegal border crossings have significantly decreased since the implementation of new immigration restrictions in May. In fact, Customs and Border Protection reported a 30% reduction in migrant encounters in June, the first full month under the new policies, reaching the lowest levels since President Biden took office.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized Abbott’s policies as a hindrance to U.S. Border Patrol agents’ access to the Rio Grande. She described these actions as “unlawful” and undermining the President’s efforts.
Last week, the Justice Department issued a letter to Texas, giving the state until Monday to commit to removing the barrier or face legal action. The letter emphasizes that the buoy wall poses safety risks and humanitarian concerns, as well as obstructing navigation in the Rio Grande River. Mexico’s secretary of state has also urged the federal government to intervene, arguing that the barrier violates international treaties.
This lawsuit is not the first time the Biden administration has taken legal action against Texas concerning its border policies. Last year, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland accused the state of encroaching upon and interfering with the federal government’s responsibility to enforce immigration laws. This occurred after Governor Abbott authorized state troopers to halt vehicles carrying migrants, citing the potential spread of COVID-19.
Reported by Valeria Gonzalez from McAllen, Texas.
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