Justice Department to Take Legal Action Against Texas for Placement of Floating Barriers in Rio Grande
The Justice Department has informed Texas that it intends to file legal action against the state’s placement of floating barriers in the Rio Grande as part of its operation along the Texas-Mexico border. The department sent a letter to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, stating that the state’s actions violate federal law and raise concerns about humanitarian issues, public safety, and the environment. The letter cites a clause in the law that prohibits the creation of obstructions in navigable waters without authorization from the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
Governor Abbott has defended Texas’s authority to defend its border, stating that it is within the state’s constitutional rights. He claims that the Biden administration has been informed of Texas’s authority in multiple letters, including one that he personally delivered to President Biden earlier this year. CNN has reached out to the Texas Department of Public Safety for comment but has not received a response.
This is not the first time that the Justice Department has taken legal action on border-related matters. Last year, the department sued Arizona for placing shipping containers along the US southern border, which was seen as a challenge to President Biden’s immigration policies. Arizona eventually agreed to remove the containers.
Meanwhile, over 80 Democratic lawmakers have sent a letter to President Biden, urging him to investigate Governor Abbott’s actions on the southern border. The lawmakers express alarm over Abbott’s border policies, which they claim put asylum-seekers at risk and interfere with federal immigration enforcement. They also allege that Abbott’s actions violate US treaty commitments with Mexico.
The Texas Department of Public Safety’s inspector general has received additional complaints from personnel on the front lines at the border regarding the treatment of migrants. Among the complaints are reports that Texas troopers were instructed to push migrants into the Rio Grande and not provide them with water.
In response to these allegations, Abbott’s office issued a joint statement with other top Texas officials, denying that any orders or directions have been given to compromise the lives of those attempting to cross the border illegally under Operation Lone Star.
The lawmakers’ letter also criticizes Abbott’s placement of razor wire and inflatable buoys in the Rio Grande, stating that it may be illegal and violate bilateral treaties between the US and Mexico. They urge President Biden to take action and stop what they describe as a horrific abuse of power.
The Biden administration has expressed growing concern over Abbott’s measures along the Texas-Mexico border, stating that they are making their job harder. The Justice Department has now escalated its response by assessing the situation and working with relevant agencies to address the issue.
As this story continues to develop, it is clear that tensions are rising between Texas and the federal government over border policies and actions. The legal action threatened by the Justice Department adds another layer to the ongoing debate surrounding immigration and border security.
Original Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-07-21 19:10:00