MADRID, July 24 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The US federal government has filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas for its refusal to remove the buoy barrier installed on the Rio Grande, the border with Mexico, installed to try to prevent the crossing of immigrants.
The Department of Justice has requested a judicial order that prohibits Texas from installing additional barriers in the river and obliges state authorities to remove those already installed, covering the costs that this may entail, reports CNN.
The lawsuit has been filed in the District Court for the Western District of Texas alleging violation of the Improper Use of Rivers and Harbors Act by constructing a structure on a navigable river without permission from the Army Corps of Engineers.
Thus, it points out that the buoy barrier “represents an unauthorized obstruction of the navigability of United States waters.” “We allege that Texas has violated federal law by installing a barrier on the Rio Grande (Rio Grande) without the necessary federal authorization,” attorney Vanita Gupta explained in an official statement.
“The floating barrier poses a threat to navigation and public safety and humanitarian implications. In addition, the presence of the floating barrier has provoked diplomatic protest from Mexico and could harm the foreign policy of the United States,” he added.
The Justice Department gave Texas until Monday to remove the barrier. However, Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbot has refused to comply with the ultimatum, citing an “invasion” of immigrants.
“Texas will fully use its (state) constitutional authority to address the crisis you have caused. Texas will see you in court, Mr. President,” Abbott said in a letter sent to US President Joe Biden this Monday.
Specifically, Abbott defends “Texas’ right to border security,” according to the letter, posted on social media. The Texan governor cites several court rulings and accuses Biden of failing to comply with Article 4, which states that the Government “must protect them (the states) against an invasion.”
“All this is happening because you have breached your constitutional obligation to defend the states from an invasion by sincerely applying federal law,” said Abbott, who recalls the “record levels of illegal immigration.”
Abbott has criticized Biden that “the open border policy encourages migrants to risk their lives crossing the water illegally instead of doing it safely and legally (…). Nobody drowns on a bridge.” Thus, he recalls that the UN designated the border between the United States and Mexico as “the deadliest land border” in the world, with 728 deaths in 2021.
Thus, Abbott urges Biden to “help me save Texans and all Americans from deadly drugs like fentanyl, cartel violence, and the horrors of human trafficking,” he stressed.
