In a bold move, the Texas National Guard has proceeded with the installation of razor wire along the Texas-Mexico border, defying the recent Supreme Court ruling.
The Supreme Court, siding with the Biden administration, ruled on Monday that Border Patrol agents could remove the razor wire. However, members of the Texas National Guard were seen assembling the wire in Eagle Pass, Texas, following the ruling.
Republican Representative Clay Higgins has urged Texas to “stand their ground,” echoing sentiments that the federal government’s actions could be leading towards a civil conflict.
The razor wire, part of Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, was initially installed to curb illegal immigration, spanning approximately 30 miles near Eagle Pass. The initiative also included busing thousands of migrants to Democratic-led cities and arresting migrants on trespassing charges.
The Biden administration opposed the wire, arguing that it hindered Border Patrol agents in their duties and contravened federal immigration laws. The Supreme Court’s decision, with a narrow 5-4 majority, reflected the complexity of federal-state relations. The majority comprised Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, and the court’s three liberal justices, while Justices Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh dissented.
Brandon Judd, President of the National Border Patrol Council, criticized the ruling, fearing it would encourage more illegal immigration and overburden Border Patrol agents. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton had previously sued the Biden administration for allegedly destroying state property by cutting through the wire.
The Supreme Court’s order overruled a previous decision by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which had prevented Border Patrol agents from removing the wire. The concertina wire had restricted access to parts of the Rio Grande and became a symbol of Texas’ independent stance on illegal immigration.
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