Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to Joe Biden Over Barrier Issue: 'We'll See You in Court'

President Joe Biden and the DOJ are making good on their promise to sue Texas over the inhumane barriers along the Rio Grande that resulted in injuries. Gov. Greg Abbott is remaining defiant, however, telling the Biden administration, "Texas will see you in court. Mr. President."

Rights groups have warned that the Texas barriers, including the buoys along the Rio Grande and the razor-wire fence along the banks, will result in drownings and injuries. The reports of inhumane treatment of migrants, including a complaint filed by a Texas State Trooper about migrants not being given water despite the harsh Texas heat and the troopers being ordered to push tired and injured migrants back into the river have given more scrutiny into Abbott's "Operation Lone Star."

The Texas State Trooper's report led the DOJ to warn Texas that if they did not remove these barriers, they will be sued. With Abbott doubling down, the DOJ has made good on its promise of suing Texas. Abbott has already anticipated this and sent a letter to President Joe Biden and did not back down on his inhumane policies per the Associated Press.

Critics are saying that Abbott only installed these barriers for optics, as it looks good for his white conservative base even if it will alienate Texas's large Hispanic population.

This comes at a time when illegal border crossings have declined significantly since new immigration restrictions took effect in May. The US Customs and Border Protection has even stated that migrant encounters were down 30% from the month before, and these are the lowest levels since Biden first took office.

Furthermore, these barriers do little in deterring migrants, who often try to find parts of the river with no barriers to cross. Some even risk bodily harm and go through these barriers, with reports of children injuring themselves along Abbott's traps being rampant.

READ MORE: Illinois Law Will Stop Landlords from Discriminating Tenants for Immigration Status

White House Says Greg Abbott Is 'Sowing Chaos,' 'Not Operating in Good Faith' Regarding Texas Barriers

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre recently blasted Abbott's policies and said that the Texas governor's actions are unlawful and they are undermining the CBP as these barriers deny Border Patrol agents access to the Rio Grande, according to USA Today.

She added that Gov. Abbott is "sowing chaos" and "not operating in good faith here." "Instead of coming to the table and trying to figure out a way to work together, he continues to do this really cruel, unjust, inhumane ways of moving forward," she added.

Greg Abbott Administration Also Sued by Kayaking Company Over Texas Barriers at the Rio Grande

The DOJ lawsuit is not the only legal challenge Texas is facing over the barriers, as Jessie Fuentes, owner of Epi's Canoe & Kayak Team, also filed a lawsuit in an effort to stop the state from facing these harmful buoys.

According to KXAN, Fuentes claimed that these buoys would prevent him from giving tours on the river, and it might cause his business "imminent and irreparable harm." The lawsuit also alleges that the buoys are unjustly hurting his business and are also unconstitutional.

"A plain reading of the [disaster declaration] reveals as a matter of law that this statute cannot be used to regulate the Texas-Mexico border because none of its definitions address immigrants, the border, or crimes committed by immigrants," the lawsuit reads.

It also pointed out that Greg Abbott created "his own border patrol agency to regulate the border and prevent immigrants from entering Texas by installing a buoy system in the Rio Grande."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Justice Department will sue Gov. Abbott if Texas doesn't remove floating barrier in Rio Grande - CBS Evening News