The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals handed Texas a win on Tuesday night in a lawsuit it filed against the Biden administration for destroying its concertina wire barriers on state property along the Rio Grande River.
A panel of three judges granted Texas' request for an injunction pending appeal. It also enjoined the federal government during the appeal process from "damaging, destroying, or otherwise interfering with Texas' c-wire fence in the vicinity of Eagle Pass, Texas, as indicated in Texas' complaint." The order also notes that both parties have agreed that the wire may be cut "if necessary to address any medical emergency."
In response, Gov. Greg Abbott said, "The Fifth Circuit ordered the Biden administration to stop cutting Texas' razor wire pending our appeal of its initial ruling. AG Paxton and I will hold [President Joe] Biden and [DHS Secretary Alejandro] Mayorkas accountable for attacking Texas' sovereign authority and their attempts to obstruct our border security efforts."
The ruling came after the Fifth Circuit stayed its previous ruling two weeks ago and issued an administrative stay preventing the federal government from cutting the wire.
