Justice Department plans legal action against Texas over border
The Department of Justice is preparing a lawsuit against the state of Texas for large buoys that have been placed at the southern border.
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00:00 This morning, the Department of Justice, with plans to sue the state of Texas for deploying floating barricades at the southern border.
00:07 The DOJ in a letter to Governor Greg Abbott, writing, "The state of Texas's actions violate federal law, raise humanitarian concerns, and may interfere with the federal government's official duties."
00:19 The department demanding Texas remove the barriers or face legal action.
00:24 They do have a valid lawsuit under the statute, and the governor is just acting on his own.
00:30 In a series of tweets, Abbott defended his border enforcement efforts, blaming President Biden and saying Texas is stepping up to address this crisis, adding, "We will see you in court, Mr. President."
00:42 But some Texas Republicans are raising concern for the state's latest deterrent tactics.
00:48 It's not acceptable.
00:49 Representative Tony Gonzalez acknowledging the dangers at the U.S.-Mexico border, though ultimately siding with the governor's actions.
00:57 I think you're seeing the governor do everything he possibly can to secure the border.
01:01 This says the inspector general in the Texas Department of Public Safety investigates allegations of inhumane treatment of migrants,
01:09 following a letter that became public last week, which recounted a patrol where state troopers were allegedly given orders to push children back into the river and refuse water to migrants amid scorching temperatures.
01:21 Officials in the department claiming the whistleblower misinterpreted the order.
01:26 If a member from one of our leadership or a supervisor tells a trooper to push back migrants, what that means is to verbally tell them, "Go to a port of entry."
01:37 The Texas state trooper, ABC News learns, has been on the job for more than five years at its office,
01:43 previously saying Texas is deploying every tool to deter illegal crossings.
01:49 Em Wynn, ABC News, Washington.