Judge Orders Texas to Remove Floating Barrier from Rio Grande River, Citing Environmental Damage and Disruption of Flow

A federal judge in Austin, Texas has ordered the state to remove a large floating barrier from the middle of the Rio Grande River, following protests from the U.S. and Mexican governments. Senior U.S. District Court Judge David Ezra issued a preliminary injunction on Wednesday, directing Texas officials to remove the barrier by Sept. 15, at the state’s own expense.

The decision is a victory for the Biden administration, which sued after Texas put the wrecking ball-sized buoys on the water in early July as part of a sprawling border security mission known as Operation Lone Star. The buoys were approved by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in an effort to repel migrants.

The U.S. government argued that the buoys violated the federal government’s exclusive authority to regulate navigable waters. In his opinion, Judge Ezra found that Texas’ buoys interfered with the federal government’s ability to manage the river, and that the state had not shown that the buoys were necessary to protect public safety.

The judge also noted that the buoys had caused environmental damage to the river, including the destruction of aquatic vegetation. He said that the buoys had also caused a disruption in the flow of the river, which could have an impact on the water supply of downstream communities.

The ruling is the latest development in the ongoing migrant crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Biden administration has taken a number of steps to address the issue, including increasing the number of beds available for migrant children and increasing the number of immigration judges. The administration has also proposed legislation that would provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants.