Staff ReportsThe Biden administration has taken another hit from the judicial branch, this time concerning their infamous attempts to dismantle Texas’s razor-wire border fence. In a bold move, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the feds have overstepped their authority, reminding them that Texas has every right to protect its own borders. The court’s decision means that the Homeland Security Department must keep its hands off the barbed wire encircling eagle-eyed Eagle Pass, a Texan town that has become a battleground between state officials and the federal government.
This ruling wasn’t just a light slap on the wrist. With a 2-1 verdict, judges made it clear that Texas’s interests trump any of the Biden administration’s whining about federal immigration policies or diplomatic relations with Mexico. Texans have had enough of the chaos at the southern border and have taken it upon themselves to put some teeth into border security, which has likely sent a shiver down the spine of the White House. Governor Greg Abbott, ever the proactive protector of Lone Star state values, celebrated the court’s decision and announced plans to continue adding to the razor wire barrier. Texas doesn’t do half measures; they’re all in.
Texas has right to build razor wire border wall, appeals court ruleshttps://t.co/VaC20JwufS pic.twitter.com/LxKfcgsVUq
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) November 28, 2024
Interestingly, the appeals court did instruct Texas to allow federal access to Shelby Park, a space that the Texas National Guard utilized in their ongoing efforts to manage the border crisis. However, the judges effectively spanked the Biden administration for its dubious claims about migrant drownings being tied to Texas’s border defenses. It turns out that the federal narrative doesn’t hold much water, much like the situation Texas has been trying to alleviate. The court pointed out that the state’s control of Shelby Park had a marginal impact on any Border Patrol efforts, meaning the feds just couldn’t make their case.
In recent months, Governor Abbott’s Operation Lone Star has unfolded with a newfound vigor, erecting razor wire and even floating barriers along the Rio Grande to curtail the flow of illegal crossings. The Biden administration’s reaction has been typical—outrage masked as concern for migrant welfare while accusing Texas of interfering with their “plans.” The feds have insisted that because of the razor wire, their prospects for diplomatic relations with Mexico are under threat, not to mention the supposed dangers posed to migrants. But the court made it clear that the only thing truly dangerous has been the Biden administration’s lax immigration policies that have turned the journey into a perilous endeavor.
The dissenting judge, Irma Carrillo Ramirez, had a different take, believing that Biden’s team should have prevailed and the wire should be cut. It seems that some just can’t let go of that federal overreach mentality. The majority of judges, however, wisely recognized that allowing Texas to maintain its border defenses is crucial, and a little bit of razor wire is the least of the issues plaguing the current immigration debacle. The court made it clear: when it comes to protecting their own state, Texans aren’t backing down anytime soon. They stand firm, razor wire and all.
