The lawsuit, filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, accuses the Biden administration of undermining the state's border security efforts. The razor wire, which was deployed in areas of high traffic through the Rio Grande, has caused significant harm to migrants attempting to cross into the U.S. from Mexico. Texas authorities started rolling out miles of the concertina wire in May, before the end of Title 42, a temporary emergency health authority used to turn migrants back during the pandemic.

Migrant and environmental advocates quickly raised concerns about the damaging effects of the razor wire. These concerns were also echoed internally by those charged with enforcing its use. In July, a state trooper and medic filed an internal complaint, describing the border tactics as “inhumane” and documenting cases of lacerated and injured migrants. The sharp wire has caused migrants to be stuck in the water for hours, waiting for U.S. Border Patrol to process them under immigration law.

The lawsuit alleges that the cutting of the concertina wire by federal agents has increased recently, particularly during the mass crossing of thousands of migrants into the area of Eagle Pass in late September. According to the complaint, the federal government's actions have not only illegally destroyed the state's property, but have also disrupted Texas' border security efforts and damaged its ability to effectively deter illegal entry.

The razor wire is just one part of Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott's two-year effort to block migrants from crossing the state's 1,200-mile border with Mexico. It is a controversial measure that has faced criticism from advocates who argue that it is inhumane and ineffective in addressing the root causes of immigration.

The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit. The outcome of the lawsuit will have significant implications for the ongoing debate over immigration policy and border security in the United States.