Texas law enforcement officials took down razor wire fences across its border with Mexico, according to Border Report. The action took place along a stretch of the Rio Grande between Downton El Paso and Old Fort Bliss.
The outlet's cameras captured the moment, with military members taking large amounts of wire that sought to discourage migrants coming from Juarez, Mexico. The state didn't specify why it had taken down the wire, but Governor Greg Abbott recently published a photo of a welder working on a fence.
"Texas National Guard soldiers construct barriers that will be placed along the border in El Paso. Texas continues to use all possible strategies to deter and repeal illegal entry into our state," said Abbott in the publication.
It's highly unlikely the move reflects a change of policy by Texas authorities, which have been leading Republican-led states when it comes to cracking down on unlawful immigration and challenging the Biden administration's approach.
The state has erected border walls along stretches of the state, which have immediately reduced border crossings in the areas as they forced migrants to walk many more miles in search of an easier way to cross.
Overall, the state has seen a a 74% drop in illegal border crossings since March 2021, but the process of building the wall has seen major challenges, according to a report by the Texas Tribune.
The outlet detailed that the state has only been able to build some 34 miles of wall for $25 million, and the bollards are spread out in different locations across more than 1,200 miles of border. The figure represents only 4% of the areas that officials say are "in need of some kind of barrier."
"I wish that were just finished this structure here to where it's not an eyesore. You got basically three different types of fence that are that are standing here. So you know, just one continuous fence, that would be great," Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez said.
One of the main challenges is acquiring or accessing the private land they would need to build, as the government can't use eminent domain to gain land access. Authorities are negotiating with private citizens but the process is stretching out, but at the current pace the wall would be finished in about 30 years.
However, legislators have approved over $3 billion for the wall in the past three years and many continue supporting the effort.
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
