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Surprised no one’s posted this yet: https://apnews.com/article/texas-border-water-barriers-doj-immigration-83bcb38e7f5ab613117634d0c439d6b6?taid=64bee0cde6315400010b8821&utm_campaign=TrueAnthem&utm_medium=AP&utm_source=Twitter
The justice department has filed a lawsuit against Texas for installing a system of buoy barriers in the rio grande after Mexico demanded the federal government make Texas remove them, and Greg Abbott published a response to the justice department’s demand telling them to pound sand. This comes on the heels of a news cycle about Texas border security repelling migrants into the Rio grande and using razor wire, which in turn seems to have happened once the mass bussing of migrants to places outside of Texas became old news.
Politically, Abbott is strongly incentivized to refuse to comply, even if it’s illegal, and it’s worth noting that he’s literally a constitutional lawyer and knows that he’s not going to win the lawsuit. So the most likely outcome is this getting dragged out in courts until federal agents remove the barriers themselves.
The other major culture war angle here is that the state’s defense is a previous declaration of invasion giving them the right to secure their own border, even in contravention of federal policy. This argument does not seem likely to hold up in court; it’s based on far-right legal theorizing that gained traction for political reasons. As Abbott is a thoroughly establishment creature it’s an interesting development in itself and likely portends that the Texas center-right(which, despite what the media will tell you, is solidly in control of the Texas state government) will choose to build a coalition with the far right rather than the moderate left in the future, and it probably has broader implications/lessons for far-right movements in wealthy first world countries seeking political influence.
Politically the federal government will want Texas to remove these barriers. Practically I don't see that happening anytime soon. Fastest way to remove them would be for the federal government to do it. Which would allow Abbott and Texas to score political points.
Also, are we even sure that Abbott asked for these barriers? Or did he just get forced into these circumstances. Some local guys started manufacturing and setting them up. And Abbott is forced to co-opt it because his other options suck. If he didn't want the barriers his options are:
If Biden was smart he’d have the Coast Guard pull the buoys out of the water and dump them in front of the Governor’s mansion. Invite the press. Make it a whole event. Have some lady in an EPA uniform show up at the rivier holding a clipboard and shaking her head. You know, do something. Don’t just file a lawsuit like the wordcels you are.
And what if Abbott escalates back, and blocks the Coast Guard? Escalating is a great move whenever you're sure the other side won't counter-escalate. When you aren't, it's dicey.
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