Texas Must Remove Controversial Floating Barrier in Rio Grande, Federal Court of Appeals Rules

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – A federal appeals court ruled Friday that Texas must remove a floating barrier embedded with circular saws and razor wire installed to prevent migrants entering the US illegally from Mexico, the Associated Press reports.

The barrier is located between the Texas border city of Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras in Coahuila state, Mexico.

Installed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott Biden administration on the grounds the Biden administration has failed to address illegal immigration at the southern US border, the barrier created a storm of controversy as reports emerged of migrants, including young children and pregnant women, suffering lacerations and other medical issues from becoming trapped in it.

The Biden administration filed suit against Abbot, arguing that the anchored wrecking ball-sized buoys he installed along the international border with Mexico constitute a violation of the Rivers and Harbors Act, which protects navigable waters, AP reports.

Agreeing with a lower court’s decision, the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals said in last week’s majority ruling that Texas must cease work on the 300-meter barrier and move it to the riverbank, AP reports.

“[The lower court correctly] considered the threat to navigation and federal government operations on the Rio Grande, as well as the potential threat to human life the floating barrier created,” Judge Dana Douglas wrote in the Appeals Court ruling.

Abbott has said he will take the matter to the US Supreme Court if needed, AP reports.

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