Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has fired back against Department of Justice plans to sue the state over its deployment of a floating barrier to prevent illegal immigration across the Rio Grande River that separates the Lone Star State from Mexico.
"Texas has the sovereign authority to defend our border, under the U.S. Constitution and the Texas Constitution," he declared on Friday.
The Department of Justice informed Abbott of its intent to sue the state in a letter, saying that "[t]he State of Texas’s actions violate federal law, raise humanitarian concerns, present serious risks to public safety and the environment, and may interfere with the federal government’s ability to carry out its official duties," according to the Houston Chronicle.
Texas deployed the barrier as part of Operation Lone Star, the state's effort to unilaterally address the border crisis in the perceived absence of federal support, Fox News reported. The barrier itself is a chain of buoys designed to discourage swimming across the river into the United States.
The DOJ letter prompted a fiery defense of Texas's actions from the governor, who tweeted that "[t]he 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."
"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," he continued. "We will see you in court, Mr. President."
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