The Department of Justice asked a federal judge to order Republican Texas Governor Gregg Abbott to take down the barriers he ordered placed in the Rio Grande to dissuade migrants from crossing the river, NBC News reports.
Saying that the barriers are causing irreparable harm to foreign relations, public safety and navigation, the Justice Department argues that Texas committed a “straightforward violation” of the Rivers and Harbors Act and Abbott did not have the authority to construct the barrier because, among other things, it did not get approval from the US Army Corps of Engineers, the federal authority for such things.
“No relief granted at the end of this case would make up for the continuing threat to navigation and public safety that the Floating Barrier will impose while the parties litigate the merits,” prosecutors wrote.