Texas' buoy barrier to deter illegal crossings can remain in Rio Grande, court rules



On Tuesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that Texas may keep its water barrier in the Rio Grande.

Last summer, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced his administration's plan to install a 1,000-foot floating fence in the river in response to the Biden administration's refusal to secure the southern border. The barrier consists of interconnected inflatable sphere buoys, four feet wide, that spin when grabbed to prevent individuals from climbing over.

'Biden tried to remove them. I fought to keep them in the water.'

Abbott said that the water barrier would be placed near Eagle Pass, a highly trafficked area of the border. The governor also placed concertina wire along the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass to further deter unlawful crossings.

The Biden administration entered into a legal battle with the state over its attempts to stem the illegal immigration crisis, filing lawsuits against Texas' installation of the concertina wire and the buoy wall. Biden's Department of Justice claimed that Texas violated federal law by not obtaining authorization to install the barrier. It further alleged that the buoys present environmental and safety concerns.

On Tuesday, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals determined that the marine barrier may stay for now, reversing a lower court's injunction that ordered its removal. The broader case will return to a district court in Austin next week.

Following the court's latest ruling, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) announced, "The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in Texas's favor, finding that the federal district court abused its discretion when it ordered Texas to remove the buoys floating in the Rio Grande that prevent aliens from attempting a dangerous river crossing to enter America illegally. The buoys can remain in the river. I will continue to defend Texas's right to protect its border from illegal immigration!"

Abbott called the court's Tuesday decision "justice."

"Biden tried to remove them. I fought to keep them in the water. That is exactly where they will stay," Abbott said.

Abbott's interventions to curb the border crisis were deployed as part of the governor's Operation Lone Star, a joint effort between the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas National Guard. According to the governor, the effort has resulted in more than 516,600 illegal alien apprehensions and over 45,500 criminal arrests.

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SCOTUS temporarily blocks Texas immigration bill. Here’s what COULD happen after the final ruling on March 13.



Just as Texas reached its limit with Biden’s open border policies and proposed Texas Senate Bill 4, which would allow the state to arrest illegal immigrants, the Supreme Court stepped in and halted progression.

Now, Texas once again has its hands tied with the invasion at the border — at least until March 13, when SCOTUS will make a final ruling.

“We can't enforce our laws; we can't keep our border sovereign,” sighs Sara Gonzales.

To make matters worse, “We're finding out there was a FOIA lawsuit from the Center of Immigration Studies that revealed that the Biden administration has been coordinating flights for approximately 320,000 illegal immigrants to 43 different cities across the country.”

“You don't even have to walk these days,” says Sara. “You can just get a free flight, free money, free debit card, free phone — free everything, but if you're an American citizen, no. If you’re a homeless veteran, stay on the streets.”

“It's so blatant, and you may see the Supreme Court end up taking the position of the Federal Government because I do not think that they want freer states,” adds Eric July of Rippaverse Comics.

How Texas would respond to such an unfavorable ruling poses some serious implications.

According to Eric, if SCOTUS blocks SB4 and prevents Texas from protecting its borders, the state must take the position of “we don’t care” and decide to protect the border anyway, regardless of what that means on a national level.

Sara agrees — “What are they going to do? You already have Border Patrol who is calling out Joe Biden and saying he is doing a horrible job ... and they have already come out and said we respect the Texas National Guard.”

“Maybe violence breaks out, but maybe that’s what it has to come to.”


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