The federal government under Vice President Joe Biden has requested that Texas take down the barriers that have been set up along the Rio Grande to prevent illegal immigration. The DOJ has threatened legal action against the state on the grounds of “humanitarian concerns” if the barriers are not removed. The Department of Justice asserts that the floating barriers endanger navigation and public safety and that their installation is therefore illegal.
In response, Governor Greg Abbott of Texas resorted to Twitter to defend the state’s right to secure its borders under both the United States Constitution and the Texas Constitution. He promised to take on the DOJ in court if the Department of Justice demanded that Texas take down the obstacles. According to Governor Abbott, President Biden is to blame for the horrific humanitarian catastrophe on the border because his open border policies encourage people to take perilous and illegal ways across the Rio Grande.
An integral part of “Operation Lone Star,” the buoy barriers were constructed in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass to thwart unauthorized crossings. The orange spheres, each measuring four feet in diameter, are intended to spin if a person tries to grip onto them, making the crossing more challenging. The length and height of the barriers are flexible.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) justified the use of these buoys, noting that they are a reaction to the Biden administration’s ineffectiveness lack securing the border. He said that some strategies being used at the border were desperate measures being done since the federal government wasn’t doing enough.
But not everyone agrees that walls are a good idea. The owner of a business that rents out canoes and kayaks has filed action, claiming that the construction of the obstacles will cause “imminent and irreparable harm” to his enterprise.
The federal government has expressed worries about the humanitarian consequences and navigation safety on the Rio Grande, while Texas maintains steadfast in its efforts to handle the migrant crisis.