Mexico

Appeals Court: Texas River Barriers Can Stay

SEP 7 2023·Updated FEB 6 2024

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Image credit: World Travel & Tourism Council [via Flicrk/Wikimedia Commons]

The Facts

The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday ruled to let Texas keep its floating barrier in the Rio Grande River, issuing a temporary stay on a lower court ruling.
BBC News
This comes after Senior US Judge David Alan Ezra on Wednesday ordered the state to remove — at least temporarily — buoys that were placed in the river in an effort to control immigration from the border with Mexico.
USA Today
Ezra’s order said Texas provided no “credible evidence” that illegal immigration has slowed since the barrier was installed and gave the state until Sept. 15 to remove it from the water.
The Associated Press
A lawsuit filed in July by the US Dept. of Justice (DOJ) argued that Texas violated federal law by installing a structure that endangered migrants, hindered the US Border Patrol’s activities, and harmed the US’ relationship with Mexico.
nytimes
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott disagreed with the ruling and, in a statement, vowed to “fight all the way" to the Supreme Court.
One America
This ruling comes during Abbott’s ongoing disagreement with the Biden administration over border security. As part of Abbott’s "Operation Lone Star," the Texas National Guard has been deployed to the border, migrants have been arrested on trespassing charges, and migrants have also been bused to Democrat-led cities.
CBS News

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The Spin

Democratic narrative

Hopefully, this ruling is a sign that the DOJ is going to win this suit so Texas will no longer be able to install these shameful barriers that threaten human life and impede safe navigation of waterways. Someone has to stop Abbott’s campaign of cruelty against immigrants, which has resulted in intolerable suffering and even a fatality.

NBC

Republican narrative

Abbott is trying to re-establish a strong southern border — something the US needs to survive, especially in the face of a deluge of illegal immigrants crossing from Mexico. But the Biden administration — and Judge Ezra — seem intent on weakening America’s security. It's imperative that Abbott continues to fight and eventually wins in his effort to protect the US.