The US Supreme Court has ruled that border patrol agents can remove razor wire that has been installed by Texas officials as part of Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott's security initiative at the US-Mexico border along the US-Mexico border.

The 5-4 ruling on Monday temporarily paused a lower court's ruling that forced the federal agents to stop cutting wire near Eagle Pass, Texas. Neither side gave reasons for their vote, which is common when the court decides on emergency petitions. The ongoing legal battle between the Biden administration and Texas involves the state's aggressive measures to enhance border security, including the use of razor wire.

The roughly 30-mile (46-km) razor fence has been criticized by Mexican officials as a violation of international law. Migrants have been known to bypass the wire, swimming and climbing under it, often getting injured in the process.

The Eagle Pass area, where the fencing and buoys are located, has seen about 270,000 migrant detentions this fiscal year.

The vote paves the way for Border Patrol agents to address the razor wire. The Justice Department argues that the barrier hinders the government's capacity to effectively patrol the border and provide assistance to migrants in distress.

Mr Abbott's government has also installed buoys along the Rio Grande River, as part of a larger effort to deter illegal migration known as Operation Lone Star. The Biden administration is challenging the buoys in a separate federal case.

The decision by the justices represents a significant win for President Joe Biden in the ongoing clash with Governor Greg Abbott over border policy. Tensions escalated in recent days, particularly following the tragic drowning of three migrants in a part of the Rio Grande that state officials had restricted agents' access to. This incident prompted the administration to intensify its efforts for the Supreme Court's intervention.

Last year, Texas sued the federal government after Border Patrol agents cut through portions of the fencing, arguing that they were unable to reach the border they police.

It has been seen as a major escalation in the legal battles over immigration between Joe Biden, a Democrat, and Mr Abbott.

Abbott has accused Biden of “deliberate inaction” as record numbers of Central Americans and people of other nationalities have streamed across the US-Mexico border in recent months.

The White House has repeatedly called on Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform to address urgent needs at the US-Mexico border. 

In Monday’s statement, Fernández Hernández said the president will continue “working to find a bipartisan agreement with Congress that includes additional resources and meaningful policy reforms.”

Image source: Reuters