Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the Biden Administration over border security measures, specifically targeting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and multiple other federal agencies and officials. The lawsuit alleges that federal agents have been systematically destroying concertina wire along the Texas-Mexico border, which had been installed by the State of Texas to deter unauthorized border crossings.
According to the official court documents, federal agents have reportedly been cutting through Texas's border barriers to facilitate the entry of migrants. They have even used pickup trucks to aid individuals in climbing up the riverbank into Texas territory. This activity has severely hampered Texas's efforts to secure its border and has damaged state property.
"As a result of Defendants' destruction of concertina wire, Plaintiff has suffered and continues to suffer harm and a real and immediate threat of repeated injury in the future," the court documents state. The filings also highlight the "unprecedented influx of criminal activity along our southern border" and its adverse impact not just on Texas but on the entire nation.
According to the press statement by Attorney General Ken Paxton, “Americans across the country were horrified to watch Biden’s open-border policy in action: agents were physically cutting wires and assisting the aliens’ entry into our state. This is illegal. It puts our country and our citizens at risk. The courts must put a stop to it, or Biden’s free-for-all will make this crushing immigration crisis even worse.”
The lawsuit seeks an injunction against the federal government, asking the court to cease these activities, which it claims are in violation of federal law. Federal law mandates agencies like DHS and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to secure the borders and carry out immigration enforcement.
The court documents reveal that incidents of federal agents cutting Texas's concertina wire have been systematically documented by the Texas Military Department (TMD). From January to August 2023, numerous instances were recorded where federal agents cut through Texas's wire fencing, aiding unauthorized entry into the state. The frequency of such incidents reportedly increased significantly in September and October.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is determined to protect the state's sovereignty and secure the border. The lawsuit against the Biden Administration aims to address the destruction of border barriers and the facilitation of unauthorized entry into Texas.
