Page 4 - aruba-today-20230823

A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 23 august 2023
Texas’ floating barrier to stop migrants draws recurring concerns

from Mexico, U.S. official says

By PAUL J. WEBER were causing the buoys to
Associated Press drift.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Mex- “If it were in a position Texas
ico’s government has re- was comfortable with, they
peatedly raised concerns wouldn’t have done that,”
with the U.S. about large Ezra said.
buoys Texas put on the Rio Ezra ordered both sides to
Grande to deter migrants submit written closing ar-
and agreements between guments by Friday as the
the two countries could Biden administration seeks
suffer if the floating barrier a court injunction ordering
remains in place, a State the removal of the buoys.
Department official said in In the meantime, Abbott’s
court Tuesday. sprawling border mission
The testimony sought to known as Operation Lone
reinforce what the Biden Star continues to face nu-
administration argues are merous legal challenges,
the diplomatic stakes over including a new one filed
wrecking-ball-sized buoys Monday by four migrant
that Texas Gov. Greg Ab- men arrested by Texas
bott authorized this summer troopers after crossing the
as part of the Republican’s border.
increasingly hardline mea- Most have either had their
sures in the name of curb- cases dismissed or entered
ing the flow of migrants Workers make adjustments to buoys being used as a barrier along the Rio Grande, Monday, Aug. guilty pleas in exchange for
crossing the border. 21, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas. Associated Press time served. But the plain-
U.S. District Judge David tiffs remained in a Texas jail
Ezra did not immediately as a lesser partner to the of the river near the Texas barrier was moved “out of for two to six weeks after
rule at the conclusion of the United States,” said Hillary city of Eagle Pass have an abundance of caution” they should have been re-
hearing Tuesday in Austin. Quam, the State Depart- been on the water. Quam after what he described as leased, according to the
At one point, Ezra said the ment’s coordinator for bor- said infrastructure projects allegations that they had lawsuit filed by the Texas
issue centered on whether der affairs between U.S. between the countries and drifted to Mexico’s side of ACLU and the Texas Fair
Abbott has the power to and Mexico. Mexico’s commitments to the river. He added that he Defense Project.
unilaterally try stopping She said Mexico has raised delivering water to the U.S. did not know whether the Instead of a sheriff’s office
what the governor has de- concerns “at the highest could stall over the barrier. allegations were true. allowing the jails to release
scribed as an “invasion” on diplomatic levels” with the The hearing was held days Ezra questioned why Texas the men, the lawsuit al-
America’s southern border. U.S. in the short time that the after Texas repositioned would have moved the leges, they were transport-
“Mexico has sensitivities buoys which stretch rough- the barrier closer to U.S. soil. barrier if it was already on ed to federal immigration
about sovereignty and ly the length of a handful of During a trip Monday to the U.S. side and whether facilities and then sent to
doesn’t want to be seen soccer fields on a portion Eagle Pass, Abbott said the the currents of the river Mexico. q

A Pennsylvania court says state police can’t hide how it monitors

social media

By MARK SCOLFORO Pennsylvania’s Supreme from the public its policy son said the agency is re- wants,” Christy said.
Associated Press Court ruled Tuesday that on how it monitors social viewing the court decision. Justifying what the majority
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — the state police can’t hide media. Advocates for civil Andrew Christy, a lawyer opinion described as heavy
liberties cheered the deci- with the ACLU of Pennsyl- or complete redactions on
sion. The law enforcement vania, said the ruling “sort every page of the nine-
agency had argued that of puts law enforcement on page regulation, the head
fully disclosing its policy for the same playing field as all of the state police’s bureau
using software to monitor government agencies. If of criminal investigations
online postings may com- they have a legal justifica- argued that greater trans-
promise public safety. tion to keep something se- parency about the policy
All four Democratic justices cret, then they have to put would make its investiga-
supported the majority de- forth sufficient evidence to tions less effective.
cision, which said the low- justify that.” The state Office of Open Re-
er Commonwealth Court “Ultimately that relies on cords held a private review
went beyond its authority the voters understanding of the blacked out material
in trying to give the state what law enforcement is and and ruled that making
police another attempt to doing so that then, through the policy public would not
justify keeping details of the their elected representa- be likely to harm investiga-
policy a secret. Tuesday’s tives, they can rein them tions, calling the social me-
The exterior of the Pennsylvania Judicial Center, home to the order appears to end a six- in when they’re acting in dia policy processes strictly
Commonwealth Court, Feb. 21, 2023, in Harrisburg, Pa. year legal battle. a way that doesn’t com- internal and administrative
Associated Press A state police spokesper- port with what the public in nature. q