Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said that border wall construction will continue near the U.S.–Mexico border after a recent Supreme Court ruling regarding razor wire.
The video shows what appears to be a metal wall being carried by heavy machinery. In other locations along the border, Texas officials have set up razor wire, a move that has drawn a number of legal challenges.
It’s not clear where the wall was being erected or when the video was taken. It’s also unclear whether his administration commissioned its construction.
The Biden administration argued to the U.S. Supreme Court that a federal agency should be able to cut and remove razor wire along the border, although that case did not pertain to metal walls that were shown in Mr. Abbott’s video.
In a 5–4 ruling last week, the high court sided with the Biden administration and allowed the agents to remove the wire.
Mr. Abbott’s moves along the border have drawn condemnation from some Texas Democrats, including former lawmaker Beto O'Rourke and current Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), who publicly suggested that the Biden administration federalize the Texas National Guard.
But Mr. Abbott, in a recent interview, indicated that he is ready if it comes to that.
Texas officials also will not stop putting up more razor wire, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in an interview with Fox News on Jan. 29. The move may set up a future battle in the Supreme Court.
“We are putting up wire ... everywhere we can. We will continue. We will not stop,” the Republican official said. He added, “We don’t want a confrontation, but we want this border secure.”
Other Activity
Other than razor wire, the Biden administration has filed lawsuits over a barrier made of buoys set up by Texas officials in a section of the Rio Grande that separates the United States and Mexico. An appeals court ruled that the buoys must be removed because they impede waterway traffic.Federal officials also have demanded that Border Patrol be given access to a riverfront park near Eagle Pass, Texas. Earlier this month, the state took control of the park and started denying the agents access, prompting the Department of Homeland Security to send the state a letter demanding entry again.
“To our knowledge, Texas has only permitted access to Shelby Park by allowing public entry for a memorial, the media, and use of the golf course adjacent to Shelby Park, all while continuing to restrict U.S. Border Patrol’s access to the park,” the letter read.
Mr. Abbott issued a statement on social media that said Texas has a “constitutional right to self-defense.” He didn’t address access to the park.
Texas troopers and National Guard members have kept a large presence at Shelby Park since last summer, when thousands of people were crossing there illegally from Mexico.
Crossings have decreased since the start of January, not only in Eagle Pass but also elsewhere along the U.S.–Mexico border.
But nearly two weeks into the start of the year, the state told the Eagle Pass mayor that it would be closing access to Shelby Park. Mayor Rolando Salinas said in a video published on social media that he wasn’t given an explanation of the timing and wasn’t aware of when the public would have access to the popular recreation area.
Texas told the Supreme Court that the park was reopened to the public days after they shut it down, but the federal government expressed skepticism in its letter.
The Biden administration requested access to the park, an area underneath a port of entry, and a boat ramp.
