Federal Judge Orders Texas to Remove Border Barriers

A federal judge has ruled that Texas must remove the floating barriers it set up in the Rio Grande River to deter migrants from crossing the US-Mexico border. The judge issued a preliminary injunction to remove the barriers and stop building further obstructions in the river, stating that federal law requires permission before installing such obstructions in navigable waters.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s office immediately appealed the ruling, expressing readiness to take the fight to the US Supreme Court. These barriers were deployed in response to the end of Title 42 in May, and President Biden’s administration filed a lawsuit against Texas in July, alleging violations of the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act.

The Mexican government has criticized the barriers as a violation of sovereignty and expressed concerns about their impact on migrants’ human rights and safety.