A federal appeals court has made a significant ruling regarding the installation of razor wire along the U.S.-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided that Border Patrol agents are prohibited from cutting the razor wire that Texas has been installing as part of its efforts to curb migrant crossings.
This ruling marks a victory for Texas in its ongoing dispute with the Biden administration over immigration policies. Texas has been actively adding razor wire along its approximately 1,200-mile border with Mexico over the past year. The court's 2-1 decision issued an injunction preventing Border Patrol agents from damaging the razor wire in Eagle Pass.
Republican Governor Greg Abbott expressed his support for the continued installation of razor wire in response to the court's ruling. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately provide a comment following the court's decision.
Concerns have been raised about the safety of migrants due to injuries caused by the sharp razor wire. The Justice Department has argued that the barrier hinders the U.S. government's ability to effectively patrol the border and assist migrants in need. Texas filed a lawsuit last year, alleging that the federal government was undermining the state's border security efforts by cutting the razor wire.
The ruling comes amid discussions of potential immigration crackdowns, with President-elect Donald Trump expected to return to office. Recently, a Texas official offered rural ranchland along the border as a potential staging area for mass deportations.
Arrivals at the U.S.-Mexico border have decreased by 40% from a peak in December, with U.S. officials attributing the decline to increased vigilance by Mexican authorities at rail yards and highway checkpoints.
