In a disappointing ruling, a federal appeals court, largely made up of judges appointed by Republicans, has denied the request of Texas Governor Greg Abbott to halt legal proceedings concerning the construction of a floating border barrier on the Rio Grande. This marks another frustrating setback for Governor Abbott in his ongoing disputes with the Biden administration over border security measures.
Abbott, in his tireless efforts to stem the tide of illegal border crossings spurred by an influx of migrants, has invoked Texas’s right to self-defense. However, these actions have been met with constant legal challenges from the Biden administration.
Circuit Judge Don R. Willett said, “Despite our misgivings about the district court’s decisions, we cannot say that the rigorous criteria for mandamus are fulfilled. The district court’s scheduling orders although questionable, fall shy of showing a ‘persistent disregard of the Rules of Civil Procedure’ or a pattern of noncompliance that could justify mandamus relief.”
While some judges voiced their concerns over the hasty trial schedule set by the lower court, most agreed that Abbott’s legal team had not met the criteria necessary to pause proceedings at this time.
The lackluster Biden administration continues to shirk its constitutional duty to enforce federal laws protecting states—including current immigration laws. “The Executive Branch of the United States has a constitutional duty to enforce federal laws protecting states, including immigration laws on the books right now. President Biden has refused to enforce those laws and has even violated them,” Abbott said.
Source: State of the Union
Leave a Comment