Texas to install inflatable barrier along Rio Grande to thwart border crossings
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced plans to install a floating barrier along the Rio Grande in a bid to deter migrants from crossing the river into the US illegally. The 1,000-foot-long section will be set up on 7 July near Eagle Pass, a key entry point for illegal border crossings. The marine partition will be made up of interconnected, spinning 4-foot-wide sphere buoys, which can be moved and extended to cover “hot spots” where asylum seekers are sneaking into the US. The new measures are part of Abbott’s latest efforts to prevent more migrants from entering the country through Texas.
The governor also signed a package of six new border security bills aimed at protecting Texans from the “record level of illegal immigration, weapons, and deadly drugs pouring into Texas from Mexico caused by President Biden’s refusal to secure the border.” Last month, the Texas state legislature allocated $5.1 billion for border security.
The first 1,000-foot section of the floating barrier, created by Cochrane USA, will cost the state $1 million. Texas Department of Public Safety director, Steve McCraw, said he believes the barrier would prevent migrants from even coming into the water when asked whether it would present a hazard to those trying to cross the Rio Grande. The local sheriff for Maverick County, which includes Eagle Pass, has welcomed the move, stating that his deputies recover one or two bodies from the river each day as many migrants drown trying to cross it.
Abbott and other Republican governors of border states have repeatedly criticised the Biden administration for not doing enough to stop the influx of migrants who cross into the US illegally. Many governors, including Abbott, have taken to shipping busloads of migrants to liberal cities that advertise themselves as “sanctuary cities,” like New York City.
FAQs:
Q: What is the floating barrier made of?
A: The floating barrier is made up of interconnected 4-foot-wide sphere buoys that spin when grabbed.
Q: Where will the first 1,000-foot section of the barrier be set up?
A: The first section will be set up near Eagle Pass, a city officials say is a key entry way for illegal border crossings.
Q: How much will the first 1,000-foot section cost?
A: The first 1,000-foot section of the floating barrier will cost $1 million.
Q: Why are Republican governors of border states criticising the Biden administration?
A: Republican governors of border states have criticised the Biden administration for not doing enough to stop the influx of migrants who cross into the US illegally.
Q: What are “sanctuary cities”?
A: “Sanctuary cities” are cities that have policies to limit the cooperation of local law enforcement with federal immigration authorities.
Inflatable Barrier Set to Be Installed by Texas at Rio Grande to Prevent Border Crossings
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced plans to install a floating barrier along the Rio Grande in a bid to deter migrants from illegally crossing into the United States. The first 1,000-foot segment will be established on July 7 near Eagle Pass, a city which officials claim is a major entry point for illegal border crossings. The contraption consists of interconnected 4-foot-wide spherical buoys that spin when touched, creating a powerful deterrent. It can be adjusted to cover areas where asylum seekers are trying to sneak into the US, according to Abbott.
The move is just one of Abbott’s newest efforts to prevent undocumented migration into the state. On June 8, he signed a package of six border security bills to “protect Texans from the record level of illegal immigration, weapons, and deadly drugs pouring into Texas from Mexico caused by President Biden’s refusal to secure the border,” his office said in a news release. Texas state legislature allocated $5.1 billion to secure its border last year.
The first 1,000-foot stretch of the floating barrier, created by Cochrane USA, will cost the state $1 million, according to Texas Department of Public Safety director Steve McCraw. Although some have raised concerns about the barrier’s potential hazards, McCraw believes it will prevent migrants from coming into the water. The local sheriff for Maverick County said his deputies recover between one or two bodies from the Rio Grande each day because so many migrants drown while trying to cross it.
Abbott joins other Republican governors of border states who have criticised the Biden administration’s handling of the migrant influx. Many have sent buses of migrants to cities that advertise as “sanctuary cities” like New York City.