The Biden administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow Border Patrol agents to cut razor wire that Texas installed on the U.S.-Mexico border, while a lawsuit over the wire continues. The Justice Department filed an emergency appeal, asking the justices to put on hold last month’s appellate ruling in favor of Texas, which forced federal agents to stop cutting the concertina wire the state has installed along roughly 30 miles (48 kilometers) of the Rio Grande near the border city of Eagle Pass. Large numbers of migrants have crossed there in recent months.
Quick Read
- Biden Administration’s Appeal to Supreme Court: The Biden administration has filed an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court regarding the cutting of razor wire installed by Texas along the U.S.-Mexico border. This appeal is made while a lawsuit over the wire continues.
- Conflict Over Concertina Wire: The Justice Department is challenging a recent appellate ruling that sided with Texas, which has led to federal agents ceasing the cutting of the concertina wire near Eagle Pass. This wire stretches approximately 30 miles along the Rio Grande.
- Background of Border Dispute: The court case reflects a broader conflict over immigration enforcement between Texas, under Republican leadership, and the Biden administration. Texas has taken additional measures, such as installing razor wire in El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley and deploying floating barriers in the Rio Grande.
- Texas’ Aggressive Immigration Enforcement: Governor Greg Abbott of Texas has implemented strict policies to control immigration, including the arrest and jailing of thousands of migrants on trespassing charges.
- Federal Government’s Stance: The Biden administration argues that the razor wire hinders Border Patrol agents from effectively managing migrant crossings and that federal immigration laws supersede Texas’ efforts to limit migrant flow.
- Texas’ Justification for Wire Installation: Texas officials claim that the federal government cut the wire to facilitate the illegal crossing of groups through the river, followed by their processing.
The Associated Press has the story:
Biden admin asks Supreme Court to allow border agents to cut razor wire installed by Texas
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP) —
The Biden administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow Border Patrol agents to cut razor wire that Texas installed on the U.S.-Mexico border, while a lawsuit over the wire continues.
The Justice Department filed an emergency appeal, asking the justices to put on hold last month’s appellate ruling in favor of Texas, which forced federal agents to stop cutting the concertina wire the state has installed along roughly 30 miles (48 kilometers) of the Rio Grande near the border city of Eagle Pass. Large numbers of migrants have crossed there in recent months.
The court case pitting Republican-led Texas against Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration is part of a broader fight over immigration enforcement. The state also has installed razor wire around El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley, where migrants have crossed in high numbers. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also has authorized installing floating barriers in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass and allowed troopers to arrest and jail thousands of migrants on trespassing charges.
In court papers, the administration said the wire impedes Border Patrol agents from reaching migrants as they cross the river and that, in any case, federal immigration law trumps Texas’ own efforts to stem the flow of migrants into the country.
Texas officials have argued that federal agents cut the wire to help groups crossing illegally through the river before taking them in for processing.
