A federal judge temporarily barred the Biden administration from cutting razor wire placed near the US-Mexico border on Monday, in a victory for Texas’ efforts to stem the record-setting flow of illegal immigrants into the Lone Star State.
Under a temporary restraining order by Del Rio US District Judge Alia Moses, Border Patrol agents can only cut the concertina wire to “provide or obtain emergency medical assistance.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, 60, brought the lawsuit last week in an effort to prevent the federal government from “opening up, degrading, [or] interfere” with miles of wire provided by state authorities along the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass.
“The federal government’s outrageous escalation in response to our lawsuit demonstrates Biden’s alarming contempt for the State of Texas, for the people of the United States and for the entire foundation of our nation’s rule of law,” Paxton said in a statement.
Sharp concertina wire is seen near the border in Eagle Pass, Texas.Getty Images
“By acting quickly and monitoring their actions closely, we were able to obtain a restraining order, and I am confident that we will continue to win.”
Texas filed an emergency assistance request on Oct. 24 in response to several incidents in which federal agents tore down barriers along the border, according to Paxton’s office.
After filing the lawsuit, “The Biden administration escalated the destruction of the barriers, as agents were filmed using forklifts to smash the fence to the ground repeatedly,” his office alleged.
Federal agents insisted they had the authority to cut the wire, according to Ken Paxton’s office.REUTERS
The Department of Homeland Security insists its agents “have a responsibility under federal law” to protect immigrants.
“We do not comment on pending litigation,” a DHS spokesperson told The Post. “In general, Border Patrol agents have a responsibility under federal law to take those who have crossed into US soil without authorization into custody for processing, as well as to act when there are situations that endanger our workforce or immigrants.”
“We will, of course, comply with the Order issued by the Court this morning.”
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is set to testify before a congressional panel on Tuesday.REUTERS Ken Paxton was recently acquitted of impeachment charges in connection with an alleged bribery scheme.AP
Moses imposed a temporary restraining order until Nov 13. A preliminary injunction hearing in the matter has been scheduled for Nov. 7.
The order marks the latest twist in a long-running feud between Texas and the Biden administration, which Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has set up a so-called Operation Lone Star initiative to transport immigrants to blue states and cities, including New York.
Last month, Paxton was acquitted by the GOP-led Texas Senate, after the Republican-led Texas House impeached him on allegations of accepting bribes from political donors, obstruction of justice, making false statements and more.
President Biden has tapped Vice President Kamala Harris to serve as his border czar.Getty Images
The state AG has made a name for himself by taking on high-profile cases against the Biden administration on red-meat conservative issues like illegal immigration.
During fiscal year 2023, which ends on September 30, the US saw more than 2.4 million encounters at the southern border, according to Customs and Border Protection.
The Biden administration has taken some steps, such as restarting deportation flights to Venezuela to help ease the crisis, but GOP critics say those steps are woefully inadequate.
Recently, the White House issued an additional $106 billion request for aid to Ukraine and Israel that includes $14 billion for immigration – a major request from Republicans.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
