Operation Lone Star, Texas’s initiative to curb illegal immigration, continues to face legal challenges:
Floating Barriers: The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Texas over the construction of floating barriers in the Rio Grande, citing violations of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. The case is pending an en banc rehearing in the Fifth Circuit.
Razor Wire Installations: Federal border patrol agents have been cutting razor wire deployed by Texas, leading to legal disputes over the state’s border security measures. The Supreme Court restored the ability of border patrol agents to cut the wire pending the outcome of the case.
State-Enforced Deportations: The Biden administration filed a lawsuit challenging Texas’s SB 4, which empowers state law enforcement to arrest migrants and effectively deport them for crossing the border illegally. The Supreme Court temporarily blocked SB 4 from going into effect, with ongoing litigation expected.
