A federal appeals court has issued a ruling stating that Border Patrol agents are prohibited from removing the razor wire that the state of Texas has placed on the U.S.-Mexico border, particularly in Eagle Pass, which has become an epicenter for the state’s stringent measures against unauthorized crossings.

The decision from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals marks a significant win for Texas in an ongoing dispute concerning immigration policies with the Biden administration. This administration has also made efforts to dismantle floating barriers that were installed in the Rio Grande.

Over the past year, Texas has persistently been adding razor wire along its extensive border, which stretches approximately 1,200 miles (1,900 kilometers). The court, in a narrow 2-1 decision, issued an injunction that prevents Border Patrol agents from damaging the wire situated in Eagle Pass.

In response to the ruling, Texas Governor Greg Abbott expressed his intentions to continue expanding the razor wire barrier, sharing his stance on the social media platform X.

Immediate comments were not received from a representative of the Department of Homeland Security concerning the court’s decision.

The sharp wire has reportedly caused injuries to some migrants, and the Justice Department has argued that the installation acts as a hindrance to the U.S. government’s ability to effectively patrol the border, especially when it comes to offering assistance to those migrants in distress. Texas, on the other hand, maintained in its lawsuit, which originated last year, that the federal government was compromising the state’s border security initiatives by removing sections of the razor wire.

This ruling comes at a critical time as President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his return to office and a commitment to enforce stricter immigration measures. Recently, a state official in Texas proposed that a piece of remote ranchland along the border be designated as a site for possible mass deportation efforts.

Despite ongoing challenges, the number of arrivals at the U.S.-Mexico border has seen a 40% decrease since reaching a peak last December. U.S. officials have attributed this decline mainly to improved vigilance on the Mexican side around rail yards and highway checkpoints.