Texas Gov. Abbott Rejects DOJ Demand to Remove Floating Border Barriers: ‘See You in Court’

The Justice Department sent a letter to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) threatening legal action if the state does not remove the floating barriers installed along the southern border.

In a letter sent to Abbott’s office Friday, the DOJ argued that the floating border barrier along the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, Texas was illegal and posed a danger to the illegal aliens.

Specifically, DOJ lawyers claimed the floating barriers weren’t approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and that the barrier violates the Rivers and Harbors Act by creating a navigation hazard on the river.

The letter gave the State of Texas until 2 p.m. on July 24 to respond to avoid legal action.

Abbott responded Friday in a statement on Twitter that Texas has the right to defend its border in the face of Joe Biden’s open-border policies.

“Texas has the sovereign authority to defend our border, under the U.S. Constitution and the Texas Constitution. We have sent the Biden Administration numerous letters detailing our authority, including the one I hand-delivered to President Biden earlier this year,” Abbott stated.

Texas has the sovereign authority to defend our border, under the U.S. Constitution and the Texas Constitution.

We have sent the Biden Administration numerous letters detailing our authority, including the one I hand-delivered to President Biden earlier this year.

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 21, 2023

“The tragic humanitarian crisis on the border was created because of Biden’s refusal to secure the border. His open border policies encourage migrants to risk their lives crossing illegally through the Rio Grande, instead of safely and legally over a bridge.”

Texas is stepping up to address this crisis.

We will continue to deploy every strategy to protect Texans and Americans — and the migrants risking their lives.

We will see you in court, Mr. President.

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 21, 2023

“Texas is stepping up to address this crisis. We will continue to deploy every strategy to protect Texans and Americans — and the migrants risking their lives. We will see you in court, Mr. President,” he added.

Abbott’s office released an accompanying statement outlining how his efforts to secure the border have helped curb the massive influx of illegal aliens and drugs coming through the southern border.

Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 394,200 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 31,300 criminal arrests, with more than 29,100 felony charges reported. In the fight against fentanyl, Texas law enforcement has seized over 422 million lethal doses of fentanyl during this border mission.

But despite these figures, the Biden regime spokesperson Abdullah Hasan insisted Abbott’s actions are only “undermining our effective border enforcement plan and making it hard for CBP to do their jobs of securing the border.”

“The governor’s actions are cruel and putting both migrants and border agents in danger,” he added.

One would think, given these comments by the Biden regime, that the deterrent measures by Abbott would be met with general approval.