Texas Governor Pushes Legal Limits To Stem Migrant Flow

Texas Governor Greg Abbott is drawing criticism for measures he has taken to prevent migrants from illegally crossing into the US.

He has erected razor wire. He’s bulldozed lands protected by federal wildlife laws. He’s also dropped floating buoys near the banks of the Rio Grande River to block people trying to swim across. That’s according to an Associated Press (AP) report.

The Justice Department sued Texas on Monday. The lawsuit claims the buoys are against federal law and should be removed.

Abbott took heat last week when a state trooper wrote that more than 120 migrants were forced back into the river as they tried to cross into the US. The trooper said they were told to “push the people back into the water.” He described the order as “inhumane,” the AP reported.

Abbott cruised to re-election last year. He pledged tougher crackdowns on migrants during his campaign. Abbott blamed President Biden’s immigration policies. He claims the president's approach has forced him to take aggressive measures to stem migrant surges at the southern border. Biden has pointed out that migrant crossings have fallen since his new policies went into effect in May.  

Abbott told Fox News that he will fight the lawsuit "all the way to the United States Supreme Court."

Photo from Reuters.

Reflect: What are some reasons people might choose to migrate to another country?