border with Mexico
Floating barriers to illegal immigration: US government sues Texas
Watch the video: Floating barriers against illegal immigration – US government sues Texas.
The US Department of Justice has sued the state of Texas. It is about the floating barriers in the Rio Grande, which are supposed to block the way for migrants from Mexico to the USA. Texas authorities last week began installing a series of buoys midstream in the southwestern state. This is part of the so-called Operation “Lone Star” with which Republican Governor Greg Abbott wants to deter migrants. A statement from the US Attorney General said she believes installing the barriers without federal approval violates federal law. The floating barriers pose a danger to shipping and public safety. They are also of concern from a humanitarian point of view. Mexico had also complained about the floating barriers. In a letter last week, the US Department of Justice asked Abbott to remove the structures and threatened legal action. However, the governor ignored the warning. Instead, on Monday he sent a letter to Democratic President Joe Biden accusing him of not enforcing immigration laws. He is to blame for the fact that the number of illegal immigrants is at a record level. The US government, on the other hand, emphasized that the number of illegal border crossings is the lowest it has been in two years.
Chains of buoys in the Rio Grande are designed to prevent people from swimming into US territory from Mexico. US authorities believe that going it alone in Texas violates federal law.
In the dispute over a chain of giant buoys to deter migrants in the Rio Grande, the US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the US state of Texas and its governor Greg Abbott on Monday. In it, the department states that the state bordering Mexico must obtain a permit before constructing any structure or barrier in the river and asks the court to order the barrier’s removal. The chain of giant buoys had been moored at a popular river crossing spot near the town of Eagle Pass. Large barbed wire barriers were also erected on the river bank.
The Justice Department warned the US state last week that the floating wall was illegally impeding river travel and that there was no federal approval for the river dam. “This floating barrier poses a threat to shipping and public safety and is of humanitarian concern,” said Justice Undersecretary Vanita Gupta.
USA: Dispute over illegal immigration
Abbott insisted in a letter to US President Joe Biden Monday that he has the authority to protect Texas’ “sovereign” interests. “If you really care about human life, you need to start enforcing federal immigration laws,” he wrote. “This way you can help me stop migrants from risking their lives in the waters of the Rio Grande.” Abbott added, “Texas will see you in court, Mr. President.” Hours after the letter was published, Washington filed its lawsuit in federal court in Austin, Texas. “We must all recognize that there are laws and policies — both national and international — to ensure the safety of everyone who works, lives and travels along the river. These laws cannot be ignored,” said Jaime Esparza, the Austin federal attorney general.
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At the end of April, the US government announced that it would open migration centers in Colombia and Guatemala, among other places, and move the initial registration of asylum seekers there. In this way, they want to “spare” people the often dangerous journey to the US border. Since 2021, illegal crossings into US territory from Mexico had grown to as many as 250,000 per month. In June, that number was just under 145,000. The issue of migration is polarizing in the United States, with Republicans accusing the Biden government of having an “open-door policy.” Abbott and other politicians repeatedly draw attention to the situation with sometimes populist actions.