The Department of Justice (DOJ) sued Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Friday to prevent state troopers from stopping vehicles carrying migrants on the grounds they may be spreading COVID-19.

Greg Abbott on Wednesday ordered state troopers to stop and send back vehicles carrying migrants back to their point of origin or impound them. However, this was taken negatively by the DOJ.

Attorney General Merrick Garland threatened legal action against Abbott's directive a day after it was issued, NPR reported.

Civil rights groups and immigration advocates have also lashed out at the Texas governor for his action. They said it could invite racial profiling and restrict the ability of shelters to take in newly arriving families.

Garland said Abbott's order was both dangerous and unlawful.

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DOJ Sues Texas Governor Greg Abbott

In its lawsuit filed in federal court in El Paso, the DOJ argued that the state was interfering with the federal government's responsibility to enforce immigration laws.

The department noted that no state may obstruct the federal government in the discharge of its constitutional capabilities, CNBC reported. The DOJ added that this restriction on the transportation of migrants "would severely disrupt federal immigration operations."

In his letter to Greg Abbott, Garland said the order would exacerbate and prolong overcrowding in facilities and shelters. He added that it would also obstruct the federal government's arrangements with state, local, and non-governmental partners.

The Texas governor responded and said that he would fight off the DOJ's effort to block his order. He blamed President Joe Biden's administration for jeopardizing the health and safety of Texans on a daily basis by refusing to follow the law.

Greg Abbott said he would fulfill his duty to protect the health and safety of all those in Texas by using every available measure compliant with the law.

The Texas governor added that the Biden administration should stop admitting migrants who are not authorized by Congress to be admitted.

Meanwhile, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the governor's order was "much-needed" and "perfectly legal."

Biden Administration's Response to the Border Crisis

The Biden administration is still turning back several migrants under Title 42, which allows border agents to send back migrants to Mexico due to the risk of a COVID spread.

The Title 42 practice has been in place since the administration of former President Donald Trump, Texas Tribune reported.

Many migrants have tried to enter the country through the Rio Grande Valley, with many of them requesting asylum. Immigration officials have released some migrants pending the result of their asylum cases.

The Biden administration has been working with local nonprofits and other contractors along the border, who are assisting migrants coming to the U.S.

There has been a sharp jump in migrant children, families, and adults coming to the U.S.-Mexico border this year.

Last month, Customs and Border Protection reported 188,829 "encounters" at the border. Most of these incidents were along the border in Texas, with the Rio Grande Valley area seeing the largest numbers of encounters.

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This article is owned by Latin Post

Written by: Mary Webber

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