By Steve Neavling
A federal appeals court has ruled that Border Patrol agents are barred from cutting razor wire placed by Texas along the U.S.-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, escalating tensions between the state and the federal government over immigration enforcement.
The ruling is a significant legal victory for Texas in its efforts to deter migrant crossings and enforce stricter border security measures.
In a 2-1 decision issued by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday, the court granted an injunction preventing federal agents from damaging the razor wire, a key feature of Texas’ aggressive border policies, NPR reports. The ruling also underscores the broader clash between Republican-led Texas and the Biden administration, which has opposed other state measures, such as floating barriers on the Rio Grande.
“We continue adding more razor wire border barrier,” Republican Gov. Greg Abbott wrote on X following the decision.
Critics argue that the razor wire, which has injured some migrants, obstructs federal efforts to patrol the border and provide assistance to those in need. The Justice Department maintains that the barrier interferes with the U.S. government’s ability to carry out its border enforcement and humanitarian responsibilities.
Texas, however, claimed in its lawsuit that federal agents cutting the wire were undermining the state’s ability to protect its borders.
The ruling arrives as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, promising to reinstate strict immigration policies. Earlier this month, a Texas official offered a parcel of borderland to serve as a staging area for potential mass deportations.
While the legal battles continue, U.S.-Mexico border crossings have dropped by 40% since their December peak, largely due to increased vigilance by Mexican authorities at rail yards and highway checkpoints.
