Supreme Court Allows Biden Administration to Cut Texas' Razor Wire

On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that Border Patrol agents may cut razor wire installed along the border near Eagle Pass, Texas.

Key Details: In a 5-4 vote, Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh dissented. No explanations were offered. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments on Feb. 7 regarding whether Texas law was violated by the cutting of the razor wire.

Key Quote: "Unfortunately, this means Border Patrol agents are going to be tied up dealing with give ups rather than going after the criminal elements that constantly cross our borders illegally," said Brandon Judd, President of the National Border Patrol Council. A White House spokesperson said, "We are glad the Supreme Court has vacated the injunction that prevented frontline personnel from performing vital federal functions and interfered with their ability to address urgent humanitarian situations and enforce our laws."

For Context: In response to a record-high influx of migrants, Texas officials installed roughly 30 miles of barriers using razor wire and buoys along the Rio Grande last summer. The state said the measures were necessary after calls for the federal government to help with border enforcement were not met.

How the Media Covered it: Sources on the right noted that other Texas border enforcement policies, such as floating barriers, have yet to reach the Supreme Court. Sources on the left noted that the Supreme Court decision maintains a long precedent that the federal government, and not individual states, has authority to enforce border security.