The Supreme Court today ruled 5-4 to allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to remove razor-wire barriers set up by Texas along a section of the Rio Grande.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott authorized the placement of razor wire along the U.S.-Mexico border to deter migrants from crossing into Texas from Mexico.
The DHS stated federal law gives Border Patrol agents authority within 25 miles of the border, and the razor wire impeded the federal agents’ ability to apprehend migrants.
Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh voted to allow a lower court ruling stopping the DHS from removing the razor wire to remain.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett voted with liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson to allow the DHS to remove the razor wire.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated on X, “Texas is trying to enforce our laws and uphold our sovereignty while the federal government is disregarding the law and ignoring its responsibility to protect our borders.”
