The Justice Department filed go well with on Monday in opposition to the State of Texas over its set up of a floating barrier meant to cease individuals from swimming throughout the Rio Grande, arguing that the interlocking buoys positioned within the river by the state violated federal legislation.

The go well with comes after Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, who heralded the set up of the 1,000-foot barrier this month, refused a request from the Justice Department to take away the buoys voluntarily, vowing as an alternative to battle in courtroom to maintain them in place. Mr. Abbott has blamed President Biden for the big numbers of migrants crossing the border illegally.

“If you truly care about human life, you must begin enforcing federal immigration laws,” Mr. Abbott wrote in a letter to President Biden on Monday. “In the meantime, Texas will fully utilize its constitutional authority to deal with the crisis you have caused.”

There has been a rising outcry amongst Democrats and even some in Texas legislation enforcement over different, increasingly aggressive tactics that the state is utilizing to dam immigrants, together with putting in extra layers of concertina wire alongside the banks of the Rio Grande. State law enforcement officials have been shouting at migrants to show again and, in some instances, refusing to supply water to individuals who request it.

In the lawsuit over the buoy barrier, the federal authorities argues that Texas is in violation of a section of the federal Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act that prohibits the position of constructions in waterways with out federal approval.

“This floating barrier poses threats to navigation and public safety and presents humanitarian concerns,” Vanita Gupta, an affiliate legal professional basic, stated in a press release saying the go well with. “Additionally, the presence of the floating barrier has prompted diplomatic protests by Mexico and risks damaging U.S. foreign policy.”

The federal authorities is asking the courtroom to compel Texas to take away the limitations already put in and forbid the set up of any new limitations elsewhere within the river.

The rising authorized battle represents the primary time that the Justice Department has straight challenged Mr. Abbott over his effort to implement immigration legal guidelines, sending 1000’s of National Guard troops and state law enforcement officials to dam migrants from crossing into Texas. The multibillion-dollar program, begun greater than two years in the past, is called Operation Lone Star.

The numerous deterrent ways now being employed by Texas authorities, described in interviews and in inside emails between officers within the Department of Public Safety that have been considered by The New York Times, have been used at factors alongside the border the place unlawful crossings are widespread, notably within the small border city of Eagle Pass.

Several officers contained in the company have raised issues that the newly aggressive strategy, which started roughly two months in the past and has been referred to by high D.P.S. officers as a “hold the line” operation, has led to accidents amongst migrants.

Border Patrol officers have additionally complained to Texas legislation enforcement, in line with a memo despatched to D.P.S. and obtained by The Times, that the proliferation of concertina wire alongside the river, positioned there by Texas National Guard troops, has made it tougher for border brokers to assist migrants and will result in extra drownings.

On Friday, greater than 80 Democratic representatives within the U.S. House, together with all of these from Texas, signed a letter to Mr. Biden urging him to analyze the Operation Lone Star program and cease Mr. Abbott’s “dangerous and cruel actions” by asserting the federal authorities’s authority over immigration legislation.

The buoy limitations, introduced by Mr. Abbott final month, cowl solely a small part of the 1,254-mile lengthy border between Mexico and Texas. But their deployment has been an opportunity for Mr. Abbott to make a direct problem to Mr. Biden over the problem of border safety.

The Texas governor, a Republican in his third time period and a former state legal professional basic, appeared wanting to enter a authorized battle with the Democratic president over enforcement of immigration legislation.

“Texas will see you in court, Mr. President,” Mr. Abbott wrote in his letter.

The federal authorities, in its go well with on Monday, targeted on the buoy limitations and federal legislation surrounding navigable waters and didn’t problem the opposite ways and insurance policies employed by the Abbott administration as a part of Operation Lone Star.