Forest Country News

In an audacious defiance of the Biden administration, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vowed to stand his ground, affirming that the controversial border buoys and barriers will remain resolutely in place, The Dallas Morning News reported. The tension between Abbott and President Joe Biden escalates as the Lone Star state's governor challenges the federal pushback on the barriers' role in border security.

"We are not removing the buoys or barriers that we have securing the border," Abbott said on Aug. 18 during a speech at the Young Republican National Convention in Dallas, challenging Biden and indicating a potential legal battle over the issue of border security.

The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Texas last month, seeking the removal of border buoys near Eagle Pass, citing obstruction to visibility and federal agents' efforts to aid migrants. A federal judge in Austin is set to hear arguments regarding the Biden administration's push to remove the $850,000 floating barrier deployed recently. Abbott remained steadfast, affirming his intent to face Biden in court over the issue.

"Mr. President, we will see you in the United States Supreme Court," Abbott said.

Although he refrained from taking questions, he posed for photos with convention delegates. Abbott's resolute approach stems from his belief that migrants entering the country constitute an "invasion," and he remains committed to bolstering border security through initiatives like Operation Lone Star, backed by a $10 billion budget.

The Justice Department's legal action aims to prevent Texas from continuing to breach the Rivers and Harbors Act, a law prohibiting obstructions in navigable waterways. Associate U.S. Attorney General Vanita Gupta asserted that Texas violated federal law by installing a barrier in the Rio Grande without necessary federal authorization. She noted that the floating barrier raises concerns about navigation safety, humanitarian issues and potential damage to U.S. foreign policy, as its presence led to diplomatic protests from Mexico.

Abbott also mentioned that Biden, who has not publicly addressed the issue, could consider Texas' proactive approach to border security positively.

"When you think of all that Texas is doing at the border, you would think that Joe Biden would have sent me a thank-you note, one of those big oversized checks thanking the state of Texas for... doing his job to secure the border," Abbott said.

However, Abbott noted that the president opted for a different course of action by filing a lawsuit against Texas, seeking to halt its border security efforts.

Abbott and the Biden administration have experienced repeated disagreements on immigration matters. In the past year, the governor initiated the transportation of migrants to cities led by the Democratic Party as a means to spotlight the migrant situation at the border.