‘This Is Not Over’: Abbott Vows To Defend Texas’ ‘Authority To Secure The Border’ After SCOTUS Sides With Biden

 Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) vowed to continue to fight for his state’s right to secure the southern border after the Supreme Court sided with the Biden administration on Monday, ruling that federal officials may cut through razor wire that Texas installed to repel illegal immigrants. 

After Texas installed around 30 miles of razor wire along the southern border, the U.S. Border Patrol repeatedly cut through the wire to allow illegal immigrants to enter the country. Texas filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration, saying the federal government damaged state property and was trespassing, according to NBC News. 

In a 5-4 ruling on Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court granted an emergency request from the Biden administration to allow agents to cut through the razor wire after the feds argued that the barrier prevented them from reaching illegal immigrants who had already crossed the border. 

“This is not over,” Abbott said, responding to the ruling. “Texas’ razor wire is an effective deterrent to the illegal crossings Biden encourages. I will continue to defend Texas’ constitutional authority to secure the border and prevent the Biden Admin from destroying our property.” 

Abbott also reposted a statement from Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) spokesman Chris Olivarez, who said state authorities will continue to use “reinforced concertina wire & anti-climb barriers” to help stop the flow of illegal immigrants. 

“The State of Texas, under Gov. @GregAbbott_TX’s Operation Lone Star, will maintain its current posture in deterring illegal border crossings by utilizing effective border security measures – reinforced concertina wire & anti-climb barriers along the Rio Grande,” Olivarez wrote. “The logical concern should be why the Federal Government continues to hinder Texas’ ability to protect its border, all while allowing for the exploitation, dangerous, & inhumane methods of permitting illegal immigrants, including children, to illegally cross a dangerous river where many have lost their lives. Texas is the only state using every strategy & resource to protect its sovereignty, combat criminal activity, & discourage illegal immigration. Texas will continue to hold the line.” 

 

Republican-appointed Justices John Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett joined the court’s three liberal justices in the 5-4 ruling. The high court’s ruling, however, is not final as it simply allows Border Patrol agents to cut through the concertina wire while litigation continues. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals is still weighing the full case and will hear oral arguments on February 7. 

Since President Joe Biden took office three years ago, Customs and Border Protection has encountered around eight million illegal immigrants, and the federal government has released more than 2.3 million illegal immigrants into the country.