Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, has set up a floating barrier in the Rio Grande to prevent migrants from entering the country from Mexico. Opponents of the plan call it a “dangerous stunt” that will put migrants at the border in danger.
Along with seven other Texas congressional Democrats, U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar wrote to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland asserting that Abbott’s aquatic barrier along the river border in Eagle Pass, Texas, may be against international law.
The congressmen said in the letter that Governor Abbott’s decision to put up floating barriers in the Rio Grande to prevent migrant crossings was “yet another dangerous stunt that prioritizes political posturing over the safety and well-being of both Texans and migrants.” “Gov. Abbott continues to undermine the federal government by abusing state resources to meddle in federal immigration and security responsibilities, rather than informing and cooperating with the appropriate federal agencies, such as the International Boundary and Water Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Department of Homeland Security, the lawsuit claims.
With these actions, Governor Abbott “is not only wasting taxpayer dollars; he is once again choosing inhumane and dangerous practices that intimidate, endanger, and hurt migrants and their families and put CBP personnel at risk.”
According to the letter, the barrier’s initial installation at Eagle Pass is anticipated to cost $1 million.”We urge the DOJ and DOS to take immediate action regarding this matter and the potential violations and obstructionism,” the letter says.
The three-term Republican governor’s enthusiasm for the recent endeavor at the Texas-Mexico border did not, however, appear to be diminished by the Democrats’ resistance to the action. Abbott told Fox News on Friday that the buoys will “bolster” existing safety precautions.
He told the cable station, “We now have buoys in the water in addition to (razor wire) to prevent anyone from ever crossing the middle part of the Rio Grande River and going into the state of Texas.
Will The Barrier Cover the Whole of the Rio Grande in Texas?
Following the Texas Legislature’s approval of a number of border security measures, Abbott revealed his intention to construct an underwater barrier along the border on June 8. Instead of covering the whole 1,885-mile length of the Rio Grande in Texas, the buoys are being placed in 1,000-foot sections in high-traffic zones.
Abbott stated during the news conference last month that “We can put mile after mile after mile of these buoys.” We’re now working to secure the border at the border. We will be able to stop them before they reach the border thanks to the buoys.
To prevent anyone from attempting to swim beneath the long string of orange balls, they will be anchored to the riverbed using netting. The rotated, larger buoys also discourage anyone from attempting to climb over them.
In the past, smugglers have devised inventive ways to get over border controls, including tossing rope ladders over 30-foot-tall fencing and breaking windows in steel mesh.
What Will Be the Cost of the Rio Grande Buoy Barrier?
Although the cost of the first 1,000 feet of the Rio Grande floating barrier has been estimated at $1 million by officials, it is unknown how much the full project will cost.
However, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw commended the new underwater barrier as a more cost-effective measure than the permanent fencing “installed by the previous administration” in an interview following last month’s introduction of the new buoy system.
He added that the floating roadblock has the additional advantage of mobility, allowing for its deployment in various locations as immigration trends change.
Beto O’Rourke Replies to Barricades on Boats
While Abbott has lauded the new border operation and pledged that Texas will “use every tool to secure the border,” other lawmakers and political leaders have expressed their displeasure and alarm over the decision.
Beto O’Rourke, a former U.S. Representative from El Paso and Abbott’s opponent in 2022, slammed the action as an illegal action that will harm the environment and put the lives of people trying to enter the country in peril.
In a tweet, O’Rourke stated that “Abbott” placing buoys and nets in the middle of the Rio Grande is very probably unlawful and increases the risk of drowning in addition to causing ecological harm. “So awful, the Trump administration even rejected the concept. It’s truly happening right now. The Biden administration is where?
In addition to doing ecological harm, Abbott’s placement of buoys and nets in the middle of the Rio Grande is almost probably unlawful and raises the risk of drowning. The concept was so awful that even the Trump administration rejected it. It’s truly happening right now.
In another tweet, O’Rourke stated: “More people will die needlessly if the federal government does nothing to stop this.” Additionally, he said Abbott and McCraw had expressed concern about the risk of drowning, saying “the hope is that the possibility of death will deter people from trying to cross the river.”
O’Rourke is not the only Texas politician criticizing Abbott’s action; U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, is also concerned about the buoys’ potential to cause drowning.
More people will drown as a result of the buoy wall @GovAbbott is erecting in the Rio Grande. They are anti-drowning tools.
Republicans continue to spread unfounded fear about immigrants despite a 50% decrease in border crossings as a means of deflecting attention from their inability to advance the most important issues.
More people will drown as a result of the buoy wall (Abbott is erecting) in the Rio Grande, according to Castro’s tweet. They are flotation devices. Republicans continue to incite anxiety about migrants despite a 50% decrease in border crossings as a diversion from their inability to advance the most important issues.
