Texas told to take down Rio Grande barrier during ongoing trial.
The State of Texas Ordered to Remove Floating Barrier from Rio Grande
In a significant development, the state of Texas has been ordered to remove its floating barrier from the Rio Grande as the case brought by the federal government continues. Senior U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra issued a court order, demanding that Texas not only remove the existing barrier but also refrain from constructing any additional barriers until his final judgment.
“Defendants and anyone working on their behalf are enjoined and hereby prohibited from building new or placing additional buoys, blockades, or structures of any kind in the Rio Grande River pending final judgment in this matter,” Ezra wrote.
Furthermore, the court order states that Texas must relocate the floating barrier to the bank of the Rio Grande on the Texas side of the river by September 15, 2023. This relocation will be done at the expense of the defendants and in coordination with the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
“Defendants shall, by September 15, 2023, reposition, at Defendants’ expense, and in coordination with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, all buoys, anchors, and other related materials composing the… floating barrier placed by Texas in the Rio Grande in the vicinity of Eagle Pass, Texas to the bank of the Rio Grande on the Texas side of the river,” he added.
Upon hearing the news, Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) wasted no time in announcing his intention to appeal the decision. He expressed his willingness to take the legal battle all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.
“Texas will appeal. Today’s court decision merely prolongs President Biden’s willful refusal to acknowledge that Texas is rightfully stepping up to do the job that he should have been doing all along,” Abbott’s office said in a statement.
“This ruling is incorrect and will be overturned on appeal. We will continue to utilize every strategy to secure the border, including deploying Texas National Guard soldiers and Department of Public Safety troopers and installing strategic barriers. Our battle to defend Texas’ sovereign authority to protect lives from the chaos caused by President Biden’s open border policies has only begun. Texas is prepared to take this fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.”
While Republicans expressed their dismay at the decision, Democrats celebrated the ruling. Texas State Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D), who is running against Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in 2024, applauded the court’s decision to demand the dismantlement of the barrier. He also sought to directly connect the policy to his Senate opponent.
“The cruel and inhumane border policies endorsed by Ted Cruz have killed children and separated families,” Gutierrez said in a statement.
“Today, the death buoys supported by Cruz were rejected by a federal judge. The Department of Justice’s ruling against Operation Lone Star is a necessary step towards justice, shedding light on inhumane and cruel practices that have no place in our society,” he added.
Gutierrez emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the border crisis must be addressed immediately.
“Drowning women and children at the border isn’t a policy,” he added. “It is cruelty and insanity. The Department’s ruling is a step towards justice, but now we must see action. This whole stunt must end right now.”
The Washington Examiner has reached out to Senator Ted Cruz for comment.
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