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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Ignores Biden Administration Threats to Lawsuit Over Floating Border Barrier

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday defended the legality of a floating barrier state officials recently put up along the U.S.-Mexico border to stop migrants from crossing, ignoring the Biden administration’s threat to sue the state over river buoys.

Last week, the Justice Department’s top lawyers informed Abbott and other Texas officials said they would sue the state if the administration didn’t remove the fence it had installed in the middle of the Rio Grande. The Biden administration argued that the river embankment violated the Federal Navigation Waters Act, created a humanitarian challenge, and prevented federal law enforcement from arresting immigrants.

but, letter Republican Abbott appeared to welcome the legal battle on Monday, accusing President Biden and other government officials that Texas was using its “constitutional authority” to combat unauthorized border crossings.

Mr. Abbott wrote, “Texas will see you in court, Mr. President.”

Hours after Abbott released his response, the Justice Department filed a lawsuitasked a federal court in Austin to force state officials to remove the buoy and prevent the installation of a similar structure.

The river buoys Texas installed earlier this month have sparked renewed criticism of the state’s broader border plan, known as Operation Lone Star. As part of the operation, Mr. Abbott dispatched thousands of immigrants on buses to Democratic-led metropolitan cities, directed state troopers to arrest immigrants on state trespassing charges, and dispatched the Texas National Guard to repel immigrants with razor wires and other means.

Buoys are installed in the waters along the Rio Grande border with Mexico in Eagle Pass, Texas, July 15, 2023 to prevent immigrants from entering the United States.
Buoys are installed in the waters along the Rio Grande border with Mexico in Eagle Pass, Texas, July 15, 2023 to prevent immigrants from entering the United States.

Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images


Newest Texas Trooper alarming allegations It detailed reports of migrants, including children and pregnant women, being cut with razor wires and told them to be deprived of water and pushed into the Rio Grande. Texas officials are investigating the allegations, but deny the existence of an order to deny migrants water or toss them into a river.

State police also urged superiors to remove the floating barrier, saying the structure forces migrants to enter the United States through parts of the Rio Grande where they are likely to drown.

In a letter Monday, Abbott denied the Justice Department’s allegations that the river buoys violated the Rivers and Ports Act. However, he called it an “incidental problem.”

“In fact, if Congress had already enacted immigration laws, America wouldn’t be plagued by record levels of illegal immigration,” Abbott wrote.

The White House called Mr Abbott’s actions “brutal” and counterproductive, arguing that the river fence increased the risk of immigrants drowning and prevented Border Patrol patrols of the river. The Justice Department is also reviewing reports of mistreatment of immigrants by Texas authorities.

“Mr. President, I share the humanitarian concerns expressed in your attorney’s letter, but you point in the wrong direction,” Abbott said in response. “Neither of us wants another death on the Rio Grande. Yet your open-border policy encourages migrants to risk their lives by crossing the water illegally rather than passing safely and legally through ports of entry. No one drowns on the bridge.”

Biden administration officials have tried to soften Mr. Abbott’s criticism by pointing out that illegal immigration along the southern border has plummeted in recent weeks. Border Patrol agents arrested fewer than 100,000 immigrants who entered the United States illegally in June, the lowest level in two years.

The administration said the decline in illegal immigration is due to a program that allows tens of thousands of immigrants to enter the United States legally every month, along with a revamped border strategy that combines tougher penalties and stricter asylum rules for illegal immigrants.

Summarize this content to 100 words Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday defended the legality of a floating barrier state officials recently put up along the U.S.-Mexico border to stop migrants from crossing, ignoring the Biden administration’s threat to sue the state over river buoys.Last week, the Justice Department’s top lawyers informed Abbott and other Texas officials said they would sue the state if the administration didn’t remove the fence it had installed in the middle of the Rio Grande. The Biden administration argued that the river embankment violated the Federal Navigation Waters Act, created a humanitarian challenge, and prevented federal law enforcement from arresting immigrants.but, letter Republican Abbott appeared to welcome the legal battle on Monday, accusing President Biden and other government officials that Texas was using its “constitutional authority” to combat unauthorized border crossings.

Mr. Abbott wrote, “Texas will see you in court, Mr. President.”Hours after Abbott released his response, the Justice Department filed a lawsuitasked a federal court in Austin to force state officials to remove the buoy and prevent the installation of a similar structure.

The river buoys Texas installed earlier this month have sparked renewed criticism of the state’s broader border plan, known as Operation Lone Star. As part of the operation, Mr. Abbott dispatched thousands of immigrants on buses to Democratic-led metropolitan cities, directed state troopers to arrest immigrants on state trespassing charges, and dispatched the Texas National Guard to repel immigrants with razor wires and other means.

Buoys are installed in the waters along the Rio Grande border with Mexico in Eagle Pass, Texas, July 15, 2023 to prevent immigrants from entering the United States.

Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images

Newest Texas Trooper alarming allegations It detailed reports of migrants, including children and pregnant women, being cut with razor wires and told them to be deprived of water and pushed into the Rio Grande. Texas officials are investigating the allegations, but deny the existence of an order to deny migrants water or toss them into a river.State police also urged superiors to remove the floating barrier, saying the structure forces migrants to enter the United States through parts of the Rio Grande where they are likely to drown.In a letter Monday, Abbott denied the Justice Department’s allegations that the river buoys violated the Rivers and Ports Act. However, he called it an “incidental problem.”

“In fact, if Congress had already enacted immigration laws, America wouldn’t be plagued by record levels of illegal immigration,” Abbott wrote. The White House called Mr Abbott’s actions “brutal” and counterproductive, arguing that the river fence increased the risk of immigrants drowning and prevented Border Patrol patrols of the river. The Justice Department is also reviewing reports of mistreatment of immigrants by Texas authorities.”Mr. President, I share the humanitarian concerns expressed in your attorney’s letter, but you point in the wrong direction,” Abbott said in response. “Neither of us wants another death on the Rio Grande. Yet your open-border policy encourages migrants to risk their lives by crossing the water illegally rather than passing safely and legally through ports of entry. No one drowns on the bridge.”Biden administration officials have tried to soften Mr. Abbott’s criticism by pointing out that illegal immigration along the southern border has plummeted in recent weeks. Border Patrol agents arrested fewer than 100,000 immigrants who entered the United States illegally in June, the lowest level in two years.The administration said the decline in illegal immigration is due to a program that allows tens of thousands of immigrants to enter the United States legally every month, along with a revamped border strategy that combines tougher penalties and stricter asylum rules for illegal immigrants.

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Camilo Montoya Galvez

Camilo Montoya Galvez is an immigration reporter for CBS News. Based in Washington, he covers immigration policy and politics.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-border-barriers-rio-grande-greg-abbott-biden-lawsuit/ Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Ignores Biden Administration Threats to Lawsuit Over Floating Border Barrier

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