The 'water border' with which Texas seeks to stop the crossing of migrants through the Rio Grande

Texas will "immediately" install a "new aquatic barrier of buoys" on the Rio Grande to prevent the crossing of migrants, announced Thursday the governor of the state, Republican Greg Abbott, at a press conference in which he signed six new laws that seek to "secure" the border between Mexico and the United States and discourage irregular immigration.

Abbott said at a news conference that the purpose of the unusual floating wall is to "slow and deter as many migrants as possible" trying to cross the river into Texas, one of the states where more crossings have been recorded in recent years.

"These buoys will allow us to prevent people from reaching the border," he said.

[The number of migrants crossing the border falls to its lowest point since Biden took office. Here are the reasons]

The first 300,1 feet (000 meters) of the floating barrier will be deployed near Eagle Pass in Maverick County at a cost of just under a million dollars.

Migrants cross the Rio Grande on May 10, 2023, en route to the United States, from Matamoros, Mexico.Fernando Llano/AP

The package of six laws signed by Abbott includes a measure that expands the Border Patrol's authority to search and arrest felony suspects established by Texas law at border checkpoints.

Another law authorizes the Texas military to use drones to patrol the border, designates Mexican criminal groups and drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations in the state, and increases state penalties for crimes committed by these criminal groups.

Texas' new package of measures comes as the number of migrant crossings across the southern border has fallen 70 percent, according to official figures, its lowest point since Joe Biden took office. The reduction responds largely to the end of the sanitary norm known as Title 42.

More details about the buoy barrier

Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), said during the press conference that they have carried out tests with this water barrier and that it is "very difficult" to cross the buoys: it will require "a lot of effort, equipment and special capabilities to cross them."

McCraw said the state does not want "anyone to be hurt" and that they seek to "prevent people from exposing themselves, from drowning" when trying to cross the river. The buoys can then be moved to other areas where more crossings are reported, he said.

At the press conference, two photos were shown that indicate what the water barrier will look like. Office of Governor Greg Abbott. / Facebook

"What these buoys will allow us to do is prevent people from even reaching the border," he said. Those who succeed will face other barriers on land, he warned.

Officials in the state, a strong Republican stronghold, showed two photos of what the buoys will look like over the river, though they did not specify their size or other physical details of the barrier, beyond how much space it will cover.

The governor assured that they will evaluate if it is necessary to expand the covered area and, therefore, allocate more funds to the new water wall.

"Washington has failed to secure the border"

Abbott criticized at the press conference the management of the border by the Biden Administration, asserting that "Washington D.C. has failed to secure the border" and that is why Texas "has had to take unprecedented measures."

"I am signing six bills from this year's regular session to ensure Texas continues to do even more to stop illegal immigration at our southern border," he said.

[DeSantis Announces 'National Coalition Against Illegal Immigration' on Border Visit]

Since Biden came to the White House in 2021, Abbott has accused the Democratic administration of "keeping the doors open at the border" and causing an "unprecedented" crisis.

Among the laws signed by the governor is SB 1900, which designates drug cartels and similar groups as "foreign terrorist organizations" and provides harsher penalties for people found guilty of these crimes.

In addition, other approved measures will allow the training of more officers to identify criminal activity at the border and authorize the National Guard to use drones to monitor it.

"What kind of human being does that?": Newsom criticizes DeSantis for migrant flights. This is how you justify the transfers

June 7, 202302:02

SB 1133, on the other hand, contemplates compensation of up to $ 75,000 "for incidents" related to ranchers who report having suffered "damages" due to irregular immigration on their lands.

In addition, SB 602 would authorize the Border Patrol to arrest people "for crimes under Texas law." The Texas Legislature appropriated $5.100 billion for border security, an investment to stop illegal drug trafficking from Mexico, the governor said.