Texas governor to fight Supreme Court decision on border wire

Texas Governor Greg Abbott says the state won't "back down" on setting up razor wire along the US-Mexico border despite the Supreme Court's ruling in favor of the Biden administration.

Posting two photos of uniformed National Guard soldiers standing in front of the wire along the Rio Grande looking toward Mexico, Abbott wrote on X.com, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday: "The Texas National Guard continues to hold the line in Eagle Pass. Texas will not back down from our efforts to secure the border in Biden's absence."

The Republican governor also retweeted a 45-second video showing more than 10 National Guard soldiers setting up more wire in the rain. "More razor wire being installed in Eagle Pass by Texas National Guard soldiers," read the text.

The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling, ordered Texas on Monday to allow federal border agents access to the state's border with Mexico to remove the concertina wire.

Abbott was defiant on the ruling Monday, writing on X: "This is not over. 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."

Chris Olivarez, spokesperson with the Texas Department of Public Safety-South Texas Region, wrote on X on Monday that Abbott's Operation Lone Star "will maintain its current posture in deterring illegal border crossings by utilizing effective border security measures — reinforced concertina wire and anti-climb barriers along the Rio Grande".

US Representative Chip Roy, a Texas Republican, called on state officials to ignore the high court ruling.

"This opinion is unconscionable and Texas should ignore it on behalf of the (Border Patrol) agents who will be put in a worse position by the opinion and the Biden administration's policies," he posted on X.

Last October, Texas sued the federal government after Border Patrol agents cut some of the wire along the Rio Grande. The state said that the Department of Homeland Security destroyed the state's property and interfered in Texas' border-security efforts.

Abbott initiated the Operation Lonestar border program in 2021. So far, he has spent billions of dollars on erecting border wall, busing migrants to Democratic-run cities, arresting them under trespassing laws, and setting up the razor wire.

The White House praised the Supreme Court's order in a statement Tuesday, saying the decision enabled federal authorities to "address urgent humanitarian situations and enforce our laws".

"Texas' political stunts, like placing razor wire near the border, simply make it harder and more dangerous for frontline personnel to do their jobs. Ultimately, we need adequate resources and policy changes to address our broken immigration system," the statement said, adding that Biden is "working to find a bipartisan agreement with Congress that includes additional resources and meaningful policy reforms".

According to a Jan 12 court filing by the US Justice Department, the National Guard blocked federal border agents from accessing the Rio Grande after three migrants drowned and two others were struggling in the water, reported The Texas Tribune. The state disputed the federal agency's version of events, arguing in subsequent court filings that Mexican officials had the situation under control.

Abbott's post Monday on X about the ruling has generated more than 10,000 comments, with many in support.

On Reddit, where lengthy discussions are often held, some said the Texas governor is making a great point and getting the attention of the real crisis at the border.