Judge blocks Biden administration from destroying Texas border fencing
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, has accused the US government of illegally destroying state property
- US District Judge Alia Moses barred the destruction of fence wire along the border with Mexico until November 13 while she considers the lawsuit
A US judge on Monday temporarily blocked federal immigration authorities from destroying razor wire placed along the border with Mexico by the state of Texas to prevent migrants from crossing the Rio Grande river.
US District Judge Alia Moses in Del Rio, Texas barred the Biden administration from cutting or removing the wire until at least November 13, as she considers a lawsuit brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, accusing the US government of illegally destroying state property.
Moses said the Biden administration would likely continue to damage the wire fencing absent a court order, pointing to allegations by Paxton that wire was destroyed even after his office filed the lawsuit last week.
“No great public calamity is apparent on this record to justify property destruction,” wrote Moses, an appointee of Republican former US President George W Bush.
Moses said federal authorities could still move or cut wires “to aid individuals in medical distress.”
Paxton in a statement said the federal government’s actions demonstrate “Biden’s disturbing contempt for the State of Texas, for the citizens of the United States, and for our country’s entire foundation of the rule of law.”
Neither the US Department of Justice, nor the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) immediately responded to a request for comment. In response to the lawsuit, DHS has said it has a responsibility to act “when there are conditions that put our workforce or migrants at risk.”