The US Supreme Court found itself in the midst of a contentious decision on Monday as it sided with the Biden administration in a 5-4 vote, granting an emergency request that allows Border Patrol agents to remove razor wire installed along the Texas-Mexico border. This decision comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions surrounding the efforts to control illegal border crossings.
The controversy centers on the actions of Biden’s border patrol agents, who have been actively cutting through a razor wire fence on private property along the southern border. The purpose behind this act, as argued by critics, is to facilitate the entry of illegal aliens into the United States, thereby posing potential risks to American citizens. The installation of razor wire had been initiated by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, who previously took measures to secure approximately 30 miles of the Texas-Mexico border near Eagle Pass. This installation aimed to counter the influx of illegal aliens entering the country under the policies of the Biden administration.
A video from a source in Eagle Pass circulated on social media, depicting Border Patrol agents cutting through the razor wire that had been strategically placed by the state of Texas. The footage raised concerns about the potential implications of such actions on border security. The Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) acknowledged the incident, stating that it was the first time they were aware of such activities and that an investigation was underway.
The legal battle over this contentious issue escalated when Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration in October. The lawsuit specifically addressed the cutting and removal of razor wire by the federal government at the border. The case progressed to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals after a federal judge initially sided with the Biden administration. In a surprising turn of events, the appeals court ruled against allowing Border Patrol agents to cut the razor wire just last month.
However, on Monday, the Supreme Court’s decision took a different turn. In a closely-divided 5-4 vote, the highest court granted the Biden administration’s emergency request. This decision allows Border Patrol agents to either cut through or move the razor wire installed by Texas along the U.S.-Mexico border. The court, in its brief order, acknowledged that four conservative justices—Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh—would have rejected the government’s request.
NBC News reported that the Supreme Court’s decision was based on the argument presented by the Biden administration, asserting that Texas’ installation of razor wire was impeding Border Patrol agents in carrying out their duties. The divided nature of the vote highlighted the deep ideological divisions within the court on this matter. The outcome reflected a rare alignment where conservative justices, including Chief Justice Roberts and Trump-appointed Justice Amy Coney Barrett, joined their liberal counterparts in supporting the Biden administration’s emergency request.
Thomas Cooper