Texas Governor and Attorney General Celebrate Court Decision on Floating River Barrier

A federal appeals court decision has been hailed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton. The decision permits Texas to maintain a floating river barrier along its border with Mexico.

Fifth Circuit Ruling on Border Security Measures

In a message shared on social media, Abbott announced, “The Federal Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit just ruled that Texas can KEEP these buoys in the water securing our border.” He emphasized that these barriers will remain in place, despite attempts by President Joe Biden’s administration to have them removed.

The federal lawsuit against Texas argued that the state needed federal permission to continue with this initiative. The suit also claimed that the barriers posed threats to navigation, public safety, and US-Mexico relations.

Attorney General’s Response

AG Paxton echoed similar sentiments and voiced his support for the decision. According to him, the federal district court had “abused its discretion when it ordered Texas to remove the buoys floating in the Rio Grande that prevent aliens from attempting a dangerous river crossing to enter America illegally.” He vowed to continue defending Texas’s right to protect its border from illegal immigration.

Implications of the Court Decision

Meanwhile, a preliminary federal trial court injunction that had previously mandated the state to halt work on the 1,000-foot barrier and move it to a state riverbank was overturned by the appeals court.

The court document stated, “We hold that the district court clearly erred in finding that the United States will likely prove that the barrier is in a navigable stretch of the Rio Grande. We cannot square the district court’s findings and conclusions with over a century’s worth of precedent.”

The decision was announced a week prior to the return of the case to the district court for a trial scheduled for Aug. 6 in Austin.

Additional State News

In further news, Gov. Abbott has extended a disaster proclamation for North Texans impacted by spring storms. Meanwhile, President Biden has suggested some reforms in Texas involving presidential immunity and Supreme Court justices.

On a local level, the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD has adopted a cell phone ban in classrooms to enhance the learning environment. A widow in a yet unsolved road rage homicide is working to bring closure to others who have experienced similar tragic incidents.

As the legal and social discourse continues, government officials, advocates, and citizens closely monitor these developments. With the summer heat intensifying in North Texas, additional stressors raise concerns for public safety, health, and overall daily living conditions.