Faced with an unprecedented rate of illegal immigration and a White House with no apparent interest in securing the border, Texas authorities have increasingly taken on the task of protecting the state’s sovereignty without help at the federal level.
While that strategy has elicited support from Texans negatively impacted by the influx of undocumented migrants, it drew sharp backlash from the Biden administration.
Amid ongoing fights over several other issues, including a floating barrier Texas placed in the Rio Grande, the White House petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court in a bid to remove razor wire state authorities placed along a section of border fencing.
In a narrow 5-4 ruling over the dissent of conservative justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, the high court sided with the Biden administration, which argued that Texas’ action prevented federal agents from accessing the border.
BREAKING: The Supreme Court has ruled 5-4 that Border Patrol agents *are* allowed to remove razor wire installed by Texas.
The invasion goes on.
After a desperate request filed by Biden to open the flood gates, the Court decided that the illegal surge should continue by… pic.twitter.com/c4WmWnhCs7
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 22, 2024
The ruling came more than two months after a federal judge implemented a temporary pause on the federal government’s removal of the razor wire “for any reason other than to provide or obtain emergency medical aid.”
In response to the Supreme Court ruling, the White House issued a celebratory statement.
“Texas’ political stunts, like placing razor wire near the border, simply make it harder and more dangerous for frontline personnel to do their jobs,” a Biden administration spokesperson claimed. “Ultimately, we need adequate resources and policy changes to address our broken immigration system.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, however, vowed that his state would continue taking an active role in securing the border in the absence of meaningful efforts at the federal level.
The latest court decision, he lamented, “allows Biden to continue his illegal effort to aid the foreign invasion of America,” adding that cutting down the razor wire “will not help enforce the law or keep American citizens safe.”
Nevertheless, Paxton concluded: “The fight is not over, and I look forward to defending our state’s sovereignty.”
National Border Patrol Council President Brandon Judd lamented that the Supreme Court decision will “undoubtedly encourage more illegal immigration” and result in more dangerous criminals making their way into the U.S.
“The administration no doubt will say this is a win for border security, but if they sought rank and file input, they would be told this will do the exact opposite,” he said.
