- Environmental and recreational concerns are among the issues raised against Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s floating barrier installed along the southern border.
- The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently sued Abbott over the barrier, accusing the governor of evading federal approval to install the buoy.
- “All these objections are evidence that the guests know in their hearts that this sea defense will be a very powerful and effective changeover for river crossings. If they believe it won’t work, they’ll just go home laughing,” Todd Bensman, senior national security fellow at the Center for Migration Studies, told the Daily Caller News Foundation. rice field.
Some of the issues threatening Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s water border barrier go beyond immigration, including local wildlife conservation and recreational activities.
Concerns raised relate to local mussel populations and kayaking and canoeing activity in the area. The Department of Justice (DOJ) sued Mr. Abbott on July 24 over the floating barrier, accusing it of obstructing navigable waters and ignoring authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to the Rivers and Harbors Appropriations Act of 1899. claimed to have violated Article 2 of (Related: Biden administration to spend millions on programs to help illegal immigrants access social services and avoid electronic tracking)
“All these objections are evidence that the guests know in their hearts that this sea defense will be a very powerful and effective changeover for river crossings. If they believe it won’t work, they’ll just go home laughing,” Todd Bensman, senior national security fellow at the Center for Migration Studies, told the Daily Caller News Foundation. rice field.
(Photo credit: SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images)
The Biden administration’s Fish and Wildlife Service was suggested A Washington state examiner recently called for two species of mussels in the Rio Grande river area, where the seawall is located, to be protected as endangered, meaning the buoys are gone. announced that it could. report.
“In making decisions on this proposed list, the agency will consider the risks facing the Rio Grande mussels, including past, present and future threats facing them,” said Amy Luders, regional director for the Southwest region of the agency. We have carefully assessed the situation,” he said. Said in a statement. “The extant populations of both species are extremely at risk of extinction due to their small numbers, limited recruitment, and inability to disperse to new areas.”
Republican Texas Congressman Jody Arrington criticized the Biden administration’s concerns over mussel species. statement On Wednesday, he called it a “shell game for an open-border policy.”
“Where was Biden’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concern when millions of migrants illegally crossed the Rio Grande and trampled mussel ‘critical habitat,'” Arrington said in a statement. ‘ he asked.
Epi’s Canoe and Kayak Team, LLC, a recreational kayak and canoe company, also sued Abbott said the barrier hinders business operations.
“EPI is a small Texas-based company that offers its customers training and experience on the Rio Grande River using canoes and kayaks. It focuses solely on canoeing and kayaking sessions on the river’s Eagle Pass,” the lawsuit reads.
“If Governor Abbott proceeds to install buoys, EPI will not be able to conduct Eagle Pass tours or canoe/kayak sessions. It will be located immediately south of the Eagle Pass International Bridge #2 where it operates,” he added.
The complaint also alleges that “the buoy represents a hateful policy intended to create the impression that Mexicans, immigrants, and Mexican-Americans living within the OLS zone are dangerous.”
“Thus, the degree of opposition they demonstrate is inversely proportional to the potential of the barriers to significantly deter illegal immigration and curb desires, policies, and plans for mass illegal immigration,” Texas Department of Public Safety Counterterrorism Bensman, who heads the intelligence, said. Intelligence and counter-terrorism division.
“Those who oppose mass illegal immigration should take these efforts seriously and proceed with determination as evidence that this new strategy has been chosen wisely. It will work better than anything else that has been done so far!” he added.
The Justice Department’s allegations, meanwhile, focus on allegations that Abbott ignored federal approvals that required a safety evaluation. according to for the first complaint.
“This floating barrier poses a threat to navigation and public safety and raises humanitarian concerns. Furthermore, the existence of the floating barrier has provoked a diplomatic protest by Mexico and poses a danger of harming U.S. foreign policy. Yes,” Deputy Attorney General Vanita Gupta said in a previous statement. statement Regarding litigation.
Mr Abbott welcomed the lawsuit, saying, “President, see you in court.”
“While I share the humanitarian concerns expressed in your attorney’s letter, Mr. President, your points are misguided. But your open border policy encourages immigrants to risk their lives by crossing illegally through water instead of passing through ports of entry safely and legally. No one drowns on bridges,” Abbott wrote in a reply to the Biden administration.
Abbott’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
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