A federal court case concerning the presence of a floating barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border is set to be heard by U.S. District Judge David Ezra on Tuesday. This case arises as Republican Governor Greg Abbott seeks to maintain the barrier, even as the Biden administration and Mexico pursue its removal.
The lawsuit, brought by the Justice Department, will be heard by Judge Ezra. The Justice Department argues that the floating barrier, which Governor Abbott installed on the Rio Grande near the border city of Eagle Pass in July, carries potential humanitarian and environmental risks. They contend that its presence could also exacerbate tensions in international relations with Mexico.
Governor Abbott, in defense of the buoy barrier, has stated that its purpose is to prevent an influx of migrants into the United States. He attributes the need for such measures to the perceived failure of the Biden administration and Congress to effectively secure the border.