The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday sided with the Biden administration in a case involving a razor wire fence along Texas’ border with Mexico.
The court’s decision allows Border Patrol agents to cut concertina wire that Texas had installed along the border near Eagle Pass while litigation continues.
The roughly 30 miles of wire had been installed as part of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s broader fight with the administration over immigration enforcement and attempts to stem the historic flow of migrants across the border since Biden’s term began.
The Texas National Guard installed concertina wire along the Rio Grande. (Fox News)
In court papers, the Biden administration argued that the wire impedes Border Patrol agents from reaching migrants as they cross the river and that, in any case, federal immigration laws trumps Texas’ own efforts to stem the flow of migrants into the country.
In a 5-4 vote Monday, the justices granted an emergency appeal from the Biden administration, which has been in an escalating standoff at the border with Texas and had objected to an appellate ruling in favor of the state.
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The deciding vote was cast by Justice Roberts, while Justices Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh were in the dissent. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a Trump appointee, also sided with the majority.
No justice provided an explanation for their vote.
FILE – A migrant from Columbia stands at a floating buoy barrier as he looks to cross the Rio Grande from Mexico into the U.S., Monday, Aug. 21, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas. Texas must move a floating barrier on the Rio Grande that drew backlash from Mexico, a federal appeals court ruled Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, dealing a blow to one of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s aggressive measures aimed at stopping migrants from entering the U.S. illegally. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File) (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Most of the razor wire is deployed in the Shelby Park area of Eagle Pass. It is owned by the city but was recently seized by the State of Texas. Federal Border Patrol agents have been blocked from the park since then, a move the Border Patrol Union publicly supports.
Brandon Judd, President for the National Border Patrol Council, said the ruling would “undoubtedly encourage more illegal immigration.”
“Unfortunately, this means Border Patrol agents are going to be tied up dealing with give ups rather than going after the criminal elements that constantly cross our borders illegally,” Judd said in a statement to Fox News.
“The administration no doubt will say this is a win for border security, but if they sought rank and file input, they would be told this will do the exact opposite. Agents support what Texas was trying to accomplish in the absence of true border security policies from this administration.”
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The litigation is one of several legal challenges in federal court by the Biden administration over Texas’ border enforcement policies, including floating barriers in the Rio Grande as well as trespassing arrests and incarceration of illegal immigrants by the state.. Those cases have yet to reach the Supreme Court.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Fox News’ Bill Melugin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.