Federal appeals court blocks removal of Texas razor wire along southern border with Mexico

A federal appeals court on Wednesday blocked the Biden administration's efforts to remove razor wire that was put up by Texas officials along its border with Mexico.

State officials sued the administration last year after Border Patrol agents were ordered to cut the wired fencing in Eagle Pass, that was implemented as part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s border security mission, Operation Lone Star.

The Biden administration argued that it had sovereign immunity and later claimed the wire had impeded federal efforts to rescue two illegal immigrants who drowned at the beginning of the year, while the appeals process played out. But Texas has disputed the argument that the fencing harmed efforts to save the migrants, according to CNN.

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the administration's arguments on sovereign immunity on Wednesday, and agreed with a lower court's ruling that the state's actions “had only a marginal effect on Border Patrol’s access and had nothing to do with the drownings.”

The ruling was issued in a 2-1 vote, with Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, dissenting.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.