The White House on Tuesday cheered a Supreme Court ruling that allows border officials to cut razor wire installed by Texas officials at the southern border.
The justices, in a 5-4 decision, lifted an injunction that prevented Border Patrol agents from cutting the wire built by Republican Governor Greg Abbott as part of his immigration policy.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said she was “pleased” the Supreme Court made the controversial ruling and said border officials can now “do their job.”
The Biden administration is in a standoff with Texas over 30 miles of sharp concertina wire around Eagle Pass along the Rio Grande on the southern border.
Karine Jean-Pierre says she was ‘pleased’ the Supreme Court lifted the injunction that prevented border agents from cutting barbed wire at the border
The justices, in a 5-4 decision, lifted an injunction that prevented Border Patrol agents from cutting the wire installed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott as part of his immigration policy.
Federal officials say it threatens safety and hinders rescue efforts, while the state says it is trying to stem the flow of migrants.
Another migrant, an unidentified man, was found Monday near Eagle Pass in the shallow waters of the Rio Grande.
“Look, we’re certainly pleased that the Supreme Court made the decision to lift the order that prevented Border Patrol from actually doing their job, doing humanitarian work and actually enforcing laws. And it got in the way and what was put forward that what Texas did, what the governor did, was actually ineffective,” she said.
“And that’s something we have to remember he wasn’t effective at. And so it will now mean that border security can do their work, so that border security can actually take action if there is a problem or a dangerous situation arises. And they must take action and save lives,” she added.
She spoke after the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in the government’s favor, without issuing an opinion explaining the reasons.
“The Border Patrol needed access,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said after being asked about the ruling and the crushing of 300,000 migrants trying to enter the country in December.
“And that’s why we want to get rid of that barbed wire, so they can do their job, and you know what will help them do their job? More Border Patrol agents,” he said.
Kirby then made the case for stalled additional spending legislation that would boost border funding while sending billions in military aid to Ukraine and Israel.
‘Here’s an idea. Take a look at the additional requests we’ve submitted: they include money for about 1,300 additional Border Patrol agents. We want to help them do their work. We want to give them more resources. And the answer we keep getting back from Republicans in the House of Representatives is ‘no, no, no,'” Kirby said.
The Biden administration is in a standoff with Texas over 30 miles of sharp concertina wire around Eagle Pass along the Rio Grande on the southern border.
“Is it working for the Border Patrol to give them the access they need to better process people trying to cross the border? I do not think so. And that’s why we asked for it to be taken down,” he said of the thread.
Kirby spoke of the “historic movement” of people across the hemisphere and said the Mexican government is “stepping into action” at the border.
A migrant family is picked up by a member of the Texas Department of Public Safety after being stranded on the riverbank for hours in Eagle Pass, Texas
“We’ve seen some success in recent weeks from the idea that we don’t have a plan or a strategy, or we’re not taking this seriously. It’s just not supported by the facts. And you know, again, if Republicans in that House are serious about border security, and they claim they are, then they should act on the additional request. And you know, let’s negotiate this in good faith.
“This case is ongoing and Governor Abbott will continue to fight to defend Texas’ property and his constitutional authority to secure the border,” Abbott spokesman Andrew Mahaleris said Monday after the ruling. He said the state would continue to fight to defend ‘Texas’ property and its constitutional authority to secure the border.’
Abbott has also installed floating barriers in the river and used buses to ferry migrants to Democratic-run so-called “sanctuary cities,” sparking a backlash and pushing border issues to the top of the list of U.S. concerns.
Immigration has replaced inflation as the top issue cited by Americans in a new Harvard-Harris poll released Monday, with immigration at 35 percent and inflation at 32 percent.