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White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, when pressed Tuesday about getting the go-ahead from the Supreme Court to take down razor wire that Texas had erected alongside the U.S.-Mexico border, argued that federal agents need “access” to process migrants.
During the day by day press briefing, Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy challenged Kirby, “Why are you guys making it easier for people to enter the country illegally?”
“I don’t believe we are. Why do you think we are?” Kirby responded. Doocy defined, “Well, you guys sued to cut razor wire that was put in place by Texas officials.”
Interjecting, Kirby mentioned, “So that the Border Patrol could actually do their jobs, but keep going.”
The exhange is available in reference to the divided Supreme Court on Monday permitting, for now, Border Patrol agents to resume reducing razor wire that Texas put in alongside a stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border that’s on the heart of an escalating standoff between the Biden administration and the state over immigration enforcement.
The 5-4 vote clears the best way for Border Patrol agents to minimize or filter out concertina wire that Texas has put alongside the banks of the Rio Grande to deter migrants from getting into the U.S. illegally. The Justice Department argues that some migrants have been injured by the sharp wire and has argued the barrier impedes the U.S. authorities’s means to patrol the border, together with coming to the help of migrants in need of assist. None of the justices offered any clarification for his or her vote within the one-page order, whereas the lawsuit over the wire continues.
SUPREME COURT SIDES WITH BIDEN IN TEXAS BORDER RAZOR WIRE CASE; BORDER PATROL UNION BLASTS DECISION
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had licensed the wire, one in every of a collection of measures the three-term Republican has taken on the border within the identify of curbing unlawful crossings from Mexico. His spokesman mentioned the absence of razor wire and different deterrents encourages migrants to danger unsafe crossings and makes the job of Texas border personnel harder.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby pauses whereas talking at a press briefing on the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
“Well, you won in court. So now what? The Border Patrol union president is saying the Supreme Court’s decision is going to undoubtedly more illegal immigration. Do you guys know better than the Border Patrol union?” Doocy challenged Kirby on Tuesday.
“The Border Patrol wanted entry, and that is why we sued to eliminate that razor wire in order that they may do their jobs,” Kirby countered. “And you know what would also help them do their jobs, Peter? More Border Patrol agents. There’s an idea. And if you go back to the supplemental request that we put in, there’s money in there for some 1,300 additional Border Patrol agents. We want to help them do their jobs. We want to give them more resources. And the answer we keep getting back from House Republicans is no, no, no.”
Asked if razor wire works to deter border crossings, Kirby retorted, “Does razor wire work for what? Does it work for the Border Patrol to allow them to have the access they need to be able to better process people that are trying to get across the border? I don’t think so. And that’s why we asked for it to be removed.”
Doocy referred to how, simply final month, U.S. border officers detected a report excessive of some 300,000 migrants stopped from getting into the nation illegally. Kirby responded by referring to Biden’s supplemental bundle, in addition to providing reward to the Mexican authorities.
Concertina wire traces the trail as members of Congress tour an space close to the border, Jan. 3, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
“Please, look at the stuff we’ve put forward. The immigration reform legislation that the president put forward on day one, the work we’re doing in the region. Just last week, we had Mexican officials here to talk about how together we have and will continue to try to stem the flow of migrants,” Kirby mentioned. “You mentioned the numbers. No question. There’s a lot of people trying to make that journey. But it’s not just to the United States, it’s to other countries in the world. In the region, we’re seeing historic movement now, not since World War II have we seen this many people on the move in this hemisphere. And the Mexicans are really stepping up and trying to do more, more on their southern border to keep that flow going north lower.”
“And we have seen in recent weeks some success at that,” Kirby continued. “The idea that we don’t have a plan or strategy or not taking this seriously is just not borne out by the facts. And, you know, again… if the folks in the House Republicans are serious about border security and they claim they are, then they should act on the supplemental request. And, you know, let’s negotiate this in good faith. The president has said he’s willing to make compromises. He’s willing to negotiate in good faith…. So let’s have that discussion.”
The concertina wire stretches for roughly 30 miles close to the border metropolis of Eagle Pass, the place earlier this month the Texas Military Department seized management of a city-owned park and started denying entry to Border Patrol agents. Eagle Park has turn out to be one of many busiest spots on the southern border for migrants illegally crossing from Mexico.
A divided Supreme Court mentioned federal agents may take away Texas border wire. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
Abbott has mentioned Texas received’t permit Border Patrol agents into Shelby Park anymore, having expressed frustration over what he says are migrants illegally getting into via Eagle Pass after which federal agents loading them onto buses. Abbott additionally has licensed putting in floating limitations within the Rio Grande close to Eagle Pass and allowed troopers to arrest and jail 1000’s of migrants on trespassing costs. The administration is also difficult these actions in federal court docket.
In court docket papers, the Biden administration mentioned the wire impedes Border Patrol agents from reaching migrants as they cross the river and that, in any case, federal immigration regulation trumps Texas’ personal efforts to stem the circulation of migrants into the nation.
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Texas officers have argued that federal agents minimize the wire to assist teams crossing illegally via the river earlier than taking them in for processing.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor sided with the administration. Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas voted with Texas.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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