Texas border buoys will remain in Rio Grande
The Justice Department's decision coincides with the state's defense of its immigration policies. This Wednesday, Prosecutor Paxton reiterated their commitment to maintaining control over Shelby Park.
A floating barrier is deployed in the middle of the Rio Grande which forms the US-Mexico border at Eagle Pass, Texas, on December 23, 2023 / CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has granted Texas permission to retain the border buoys in the Rio Grande, which were installed in July of last year, while it reviews the case. Justice accepted Governor Greg Abbott's request to have a hearing of the case with the entire Fifth Circuit instead of the three-judge panel that made the initial call to decide on the immigration measure.
In that sense, the court on Wednesday annulled the decision of three of its judges who last December upheld David Ezra's order for the state to remove the floating wall.
Governor Abbott spoke out at the time against the decision and promised to take legal measures to defend his immigration policy. "The 5th Cir. Court of Appeals' denial of Texas' sovereign authority to secure the border with floating marine barriers is clearly wrong. AG Paxton & I will seek an immediate rehearing by the entire court," wrote the Republican at the time.
Now Justice has ruled him right again.
gov.uscourts.ca5.215588.115.0 by Williams Perdomo on Scribd
Texas maintains control of Shelby Park
Meanwhile, another battle that the state is fighting with the Joe Biden Administration is for control of Shelby Park and Eagle Pass. Just this Wednesday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also responded to a letter sent by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) demanding that the state end its increased border security measures in place.
Paxton noted that Texas continues to allow Border Patrol to use the Shelby Park boat ramp to provide emergency medical care when necessary. "Instead of addressing Texas' urgent requests for protection, President Biden has authorized DHS to send a threatening letter through his attorneys," Paxton said in his response.
And he maintained that "Texas has lawyers, too, and I will continue to defend this state's constitutional powers of self-defense. Instead of going to the Department of Justice in hopes of obtaining a court order, you should advise your DHS clients to do their job and comply with the law."
LATEST
