Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has responded to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) demand that his state remove recently installed floating border barriers — writing on Twitter: “We will see you in court, Mr. President.”
As the Biden administration continues to push open-borders policies, Texas and other border states have been forced to take action. In the latest attempt to prevent illegal border crossings, Texas installed a floating border barrier in the Rio Grande.
In response, the DOJ sent a letter to Abbott threatening legal action if he does not remove the floating barriers.
The letter, sent by Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim and U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Jaime Esparza, claims that the floating border barrier in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, Texas, was illegally installed. The DOJ goes on to assert that the buoy barrier had been installed without the approval of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — and argues that the barrier violates the Rivers and Harbors Act because it creates a hazard to navigation in the Rio Grande.
“The floating barrier at issue here is a structure that obstructs the navigable capacity of the Rio Grande River, which is a navigable water of the United States within the meaning of the Rivers and Harbors Act. Texas does not have authorization from the Corps to install the floating barrier and did not seek such authorization before doing so,” the letter reads.
“Texas’s unauthorized construction of the floating barrier is a prima facie violation of the Rivers and Harbors Act. This floating barrier poses a risk to navigation, as well as public safety, in the Rio Grande River, and it presents humanitarian concerns,” the letter continues.
Abbott responded to the claims and threats in a tweet thread.
“Texas has the sovereign right to defend our border, under the U.S. Constitution and the Texas Constitution,” he tweeted. “We have sent the Biden Administration numerous letters detailing our authority, including the one I hand-delivered to President Biden earlier this year.”
Texas has the sovereign authority to defend our border, under the U.S. Constitution and the Texas Constitution.
We have sent the Biden Administration numerous letters detailing our authority, including the one I hand-delivered to President Biden earlier this year.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 21, 2023
“The tragic humanitarian crisis on the border was created because of Biden’s refusal to secure the border. His open border policies encourage migrants to risk their lives crossing illegally through the Rio Grande, instead of safely and legally over a bridge,” the Texas governor added in a follow-up tweet.
“Texas is stepping up to address this crisis. We will continue to deploy every strategy to protect Texans and Americans — and the migrants risking their lives. We will see you in court, Mr. President,” he concluded in a third tweet.
Texas is stepping up to address this crisis.
We will continue to deploy every strategy to protect Texans and Americans — and the migrants risking their lives.
We will see you in court, Mr. President.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 21, 2023
The DOJ’s letter gave Texas a deadline of 2 p.m. on July 24 to respond “indicating your commitment to expeditiously remove the floating barrier and related structures” — adding that legal action will be taken if Abbott does not meet their demands.
