Border Report – Some South Texas lawmakers, environmentalists, and migrant advocates are praising a federal lawsuit filed earlier this week against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s new floating border barrier in the Rio Grande. The Abbott administration and barrier supporters argue that the new buoys need to remain in place.
“The governor has recently directed the addition of floating barriers, netting, and sharp razor wire along the river, which increase the risk of injury and drowning for both migrants and law enforcement personnel,” said U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, a Democrat from South Texas. “While we are all for safe and secure borders, and are against irregular migration, South Texans are shocked and condemn the recent inhumane and abusive actions promoted by Gov. Abbott.”
The Department of Justice has sued the Abbott administration for erecting the 1,000-foot stretch of orange buoys in the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas, without proper construction approval from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and other federal agencies. The lawsuit claims that the buoys, which have netting and razor wires, violate the Rivers and Harbor Act by obstructing the navigability of the international waterway.
Environmentalists also argue that the buoys pose a threat to animals and wildlife in the river. A species of rare mussels that reside in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass is being considered for federal protection, and conservation advocates fear that the concrete pilings on the river floor could harm these mussels and their habitat.
Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, a Democrat from El Paso who ran against Abbott, called for the removal of the buoys, netting, and razor wire. Over 85 House Democrats, including all Texas Democrats and those who represent the Texas border, sent a letter to the Biden administration urging intervention in Operation Lone Star and condemning Abbott’s actions. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, criticized the lawsuit, arguing that Texas should have the authority to defend its borders without federal authorization.
The Federation for American Immigration Reform tweeted after the lawsuit announcement, stating that the floating barriers aim to secure the border and deter illegal migration, which they believe the Biden administration has failed to do.