The governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, shared on his personal account a message and a video showing the installation of new buoys in the Rio Grande aimed at curbing illegal immigration. These buoys, placed for the first time as part of Operation Lone Star during the Trump administration, have generated controversy due to their impact on the immigration situation.
A year and a half ago, after the first installation of buoys, the deaths of two migrants were reported, triggering a legal dispute between the Department of Justice and Texas for violating Mexico's National Waters laws. In support of the new executive orders from President Donald Trump, focused on the relationship with Mexico and immigration, the Texas government decided to reinforce barriers in the Rio Grande by placing these buoys.
Greg Abbott expressed his support for the measures applied at the border and his willingness to work closely with President Trump to secure it. In the shared video, heavy machinery used and the efforts of workers to install the buoys in the river can be seen, along with the presence of a barbed wire wall representing another restrictive measure for migrants.
The implementation of this system of floating buoys has sparked criticism on both social media and in the news, due to its impact on migrants. According to an investigation conducted by DW in August 2023, it was pointed out that the buoys are coated with razor blades and anchored to the riverbed to withstand its currents.
