In an effort to deter unauthorized border crossings along the Rio Grande River, Texas law enforcement officials have commenced the construction of physical barriers this week. The governor announced on Friday via Twitter that the installation of the new marine barriers on the Rio Grande has begun. The Eagle Pass project is under the supervision of Texas DPS.
As reported by the New York Post, these barriers consist of 4-foot-wide orange spherical buoys that are designed to rotate if someone tries to grasp onto them. If required, the barriers can be adjusted or expanded to effectively deter unauthorized crossings.
The initiative is a part of the state's "Operation Lone Star," which aims to stop the havoc President Joe Biden's immigration policies have caused in the state.
A small business owner sued the government, claiming that the barrier would harm his ability to support himself as a kayak tour guide.
Jesse Fuentes, the owner of Epi's Canoe & Kayak Team, filed his lawsuit shortly after police started erecting the barriers, alleging that they will cause him "imminent and irreparable harm."
A spokesperson for the business claimed in a statement that although the governor "proclaims to support law and order, he initiated Operation Lone Star without legal authority and seeks to install buoys to score political points without a legitimate public policy objective."
On Twitter, Abbott retaliated against the lawsuit. "We'll see you at trial. Don't believe that the Travis County Court will be the final chapter in this story, he added. "The Supreme Court will hear this case. Texas is legally required to protect our border.
The state stated that Operation Lone Star has "led to over 387,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 30,400 criminal arrests, with more than 28,500 felony charges reported" in a press release from the governor's office this week.
The statement continued, "During this border mission, Texas law enforcement has seized over 421 million lethal doses of fentanyl in the fight against fentanyl.
The initiative is a part of the state's "Operation Lone Star," which aims to stop the havoc President Joe Biden's immigration policies have caused in the state.
A small business owner sued the government, claiming that the barrier would harm his ability to support himself as a kayak tour guide.
Jesse Fuentes, the owner of Epi's Canoe & Kayak Team, filed his lawsuit shortly after police started erecting the barriers, alleging that they will cause him "imminent and irreparable harm."
A spokesperson for the business claimed in a statement that although the governor "proclaims to support law and order, he initiated Operation Lone Star without legal authority and seeks to install buoys to score political points without a legitimate public policy objective."
On Twitter, Abbott retaliated against the lawsuit. "We'll see you at trial. Don't believe that the Travis County Court will be the final chapter in this story, he added. "The Supreme Court will hear this case. Texas is legally required to protect our border.
The state stated that Operation Lone Star has "led to over 387,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 30,400 criminal arrests, with more than 28,500 felony charges reported" in a press release from the governor's office this week.
The statement continued, "During this border mission, Texas law enforcement has seized over 421 million lethal doses of fentanyl in the fight against fentanyl.
