WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The battle over who has the authority to control the U.S-Mexico border has made its way to the high court.
In a 5 to 4 ruling on Monday, the Supreme Court gave border patrol agents permission to remove the razor wire barriers that the state of Texas erected to block migrants from crossing the Rio Grande.
“They say it’s the federal government’s exclusive authority and the states can’t enforce that,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said in reaction to the ruling. “But if the federal government’s not going to do its job. Why can’t the state do it?”
Sen. Cornyn blasted the ruling, saying Texas is bearing the brunt of the immigration crisis.
“The huge tsunami of humanity coming across the border has affected my state disproportionately because we’re at ground zero,” Cornyn said.
But Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) praised the ruling, which is only temporary until the 5th Circuit weighs in next month. Durbin called Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s border policies inhumane.
“His actions are not only dangerous and cruel, they’re unconstitutional,” Durbin said. “Under our constitution, states do not have the right to pass their own laws preempting federal laws and immigration.”
And while the battle over the border continues in court, Congress faces its own border battle. Republicans say they won’t pass a budget, or fund U.S. allies Ukraine and Israel, without immigration reform.
The Biden administration says its willing to work with Republicans to meet their border demands.
“The bottom line here is that we need changes in policy,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. “We need funding.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says Senate negotiators are close to reaching a bipartisan deal this week.
“But we are not there yet,” Schumer said. “Negotiators are still working through some outstanding items… It’s not easy, in fact border security is one of the most difficult things we have undertaken.”
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