Biden administration sues Texas Governor Greg Abbott over ‘dangerous’ border barriers in Rio Grande River: ‘See you in court, Mr. President,’ Republican governor replies
- The Justice Department took legal action on Monday to remove the border barriers
- A government official said the Republicans were playing “political games.”
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott deployed troops and placed huge buoys in the river
The Biden administration on Monday sued Texas over floating barriers placed in the Rio Grande River as part of an emergency effort to prevent migrants from entering Mexico.
A government official accused Governor Greg Abbott of playing dangerous “political games” with the lives of people trying to get to safety.
Abbott seemed to enjoy the action, saying in a statement just before the Justice Department made its move, “Texas will see you in court, Mr. President.”
He had large plastic buoys installed in the river near the town of Eagle Pass earlier this month, amid a series of measures to deter people from crossing.
The Biden administration says he had no right to take such measures.
Under Operation Lone Star, Texas sent thousands of National Guard troops to the border and installed a floating barrier in the Rio Grande River
The Biden administration said Governor Greg Abbott had no legal authority to take such action
“We allege that Texas violated federal law by erecting a barrier in the Rio Grande without obtaining the required federal authorization,” Deputy Attorney General Vanita Gupta said.
“This floating barrier poses a threat to shipping, public safety and humanitarian concerns.”
At the same time, she said, it had sparked diplomatic protests by Mexico.
White House spokesman Abdullah Hasan said government efforts had already reduced illegal crossings this year.
“Governor Abbott’s dangerous and illegal actions undermine that effective plan, make it difficult for the Border Patrol men and women to do their jobs to secure the border, and put migrants and border agents at risk,” he said.
Under Operation Lone Star, Texas has sent thousands of National Guard troops to the border and bussed migrants to Democratic-run towns far from the border.
But a government official said with the lifting of Title 42 earlier this year, crossings had already fallen to the lowest level in two years.
“Republican officials have no plan and are just playing political games,” he said, accusing them of spending four years under the Trump administration destroying the immigration system and “snatching babies from their mothers’ arms.”
Just before the Justice Department filed its complaint, Governor Abbott sent a letter to Biden claiming he did have authority. “Texas will see you in court, Mr. President,” he said
Concertina cable lines along the banks of the Rio Grande at Hugo and Magali Urbina’s Pecan Farm, near Eagle Pass, Texas
He added, “Republican officials don’t want solutions; they want chaos.’
Abbott, for his part, responded with a preemptive letter to Biden insisting that he had the constitutional authority to resolve a crisis he caused.
“If you really care about human life, you should start enforcing federal immigration laws,” the letter reads.
By doing this, you can help me prevent migrants from risking their lives in the waters of the Rio Grande River.
You can also help me save Texans, indeed all Americans, from deadly drugs like fentanyl, cartel violence, and the horrors of human trafficking. To end the risk of migrants being penalized for crossing the border illegally, fully enforce the laws of the United States prohibiting illegal immigration between ports of entry.”
Last year, the Arizona government sued after Governor Doug Ducey used containers to fill holes and extend President Donald Trump’s border wall.
The containers have been removed.