For Immediate Release
July 21, 2023
Contact:
Arianna Rosales, arianna@nipnlg.org
Washington, DC –The Department of Justice announced yesterday that it is planning to file a lawsuit against Texas Governor Greg Abbott over the buoy wall barrier he had placed in the Rio Grande, the latest tactic of his unconstitutional Operation Lone Star program.
Alongside its Texas and nationwide members, the National Immigration Project has organized, participated in, and supported advocacy with the Department of Justice to investigate and put an end to Operation Lone Star and its many civil rights violations.
Said Sirine Shebaya, Executive Director of the National Immigration Project:
“For years, Governor Greg Abbott has been misspending billions of taxpayer dollars to implement unconstitutional and inhumane programs like Operation Lone Star. Ultimately, this Rio Grande wall barrier is just one of many human rights violations occurring in the state of Texas as a result of Governor Abbott’s illicit policies. We applaud this critical step by the Department of Justice, and we hope it constitutes a first step in broader action to hold Governor Abbott accountable for his ongoing civil rights violations in Texas. At the National Immigration Project, we will continue working with our Texas members and our partners to urge both the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice to take immediate action to address other aspects of Operation Lone Star and put an end to these horrific human and civil rights abuses.”
Earlier this week, the National Immigration Project issued a statement decrying the cruel and deadly treatment of migrants at the Texas border. Read that statement here.
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The National Immigration Project (NIPNLG) is a membership organization of attorneys, advocates, and community members who are driven by the belief that all people should be treated with dignity, live freely, and flourish. We litigate, advocate, educate, and build bridges across movements to ensure that those who bear the brunt of racist criminal and immigration systems are uplifted and supported. Learn more at nipnlg.org. Follow NIPNLG on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @NIPNLG.