Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is defying the Biden administration’s threat to file a lawsuit over floating border barriers

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday defended the legality of pontoon barriers recently erected by state officials along the US-Mexico border to ward off migrant crossings, defying the Biden administration’s threat to sue the state over river buoys.

Last week, the Department of Justice’s senior attorneys informed Abbott and other Texas officials said the administration will file a lawsuit against the state unless it removes the barriers it has installed in the middle of the Rio Grande. The Biden administration has argued that the river levees violate the federal navigable waters law, pose humanitarian challenges and impede federal law enforcement from apprehending migrants.

But in letter In front of President Biden and other senior administration officials on Monday, Abbott, a Republican, appeared to welcome a legal battle, arguing that Texas was using its “constitutional authority” to combat unauthorized border crossings.

“Texas will see you in court, Mr. President,” Abbott wrote.

Representatives for the Justice Department and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Abbott’s response.

River buoys collected by Texans earlier this month have drawn renewed criticism of the state’s broader border initiative, known as Operation Lone Star. As part of the operation, Abbott moved thousands of immigrants to Democratic-led big cities, directed state troopers to arrest immigrants on trespassing charges and deployed members of the Texas National Guard to fend off immigrants through barbed wire and other means.

Recently made Texas Soldier disturbing allegations About the state’s operation, it details reports of migrants, including children and pregnant women, via barbed wire and directives to withhold water from migrants and push them into the Rio Grande. Texas officials are investigating the allegations, but deny there were orders to deny the migrants water or push them into the river.

The state marshal also urged officers to remove the floating barriers, saying the structures are forcing migrants to cross into the United States through parts of the Rio Grande where they are more likely to drown.

In his letter on Monday, Abbott dismissed the Justice Department’s argument that the river buoys violated the Rivers and Harbors Act. But he called it a “side issue”.

“The reality is, if you enforce immigration laws that Congress already has on the books, America will not suffer a record-breaking level of illegal immigration,” Abbott wrote.

The White House called Abbott’s actions “cruel” and counterproductive, saying the river levees increased the risk of migrants drowning and impeded Border Patrol agents from patrolling the river. The Department of Justice also reviewed reports of mistreatment of immigrants by Texas officials.

In his response, Abbott said, “While I share the humanitarian concerns mentioned in your attorney’s letter, Mr. President, your finger is pointing in the wrong direction.” “None of us want to see another death in the Rio Grande. However, your open border policies encourage immigrants to risk their lives by crossing illegally across the water, rather than safely and legally passing through a port of entry. Nobody drowns on a bridge.”

Biden administration officials have sought to tone down Abbott’s criticism by pointing to a significant drop in illegal entries along the southern border in recent weeks. Border Patrol concerns of immigrants entering the United States illegally fell below 100,000 in June, the lowest level in two years.

The administration said the decrease in illegal crossings stems from its revamped border strategy, which combines programs that allow tens of thousands of immigrants to enter the United States legally each month with stiff penalties and stricter asylum rules for those who cross into the country illegally.