GOVERNOR ABBOTT PROPOSES PUTTING BUOYS IN MIDDLE OF RIO GRANDE RIVER

From Border Report:

Proposed buoys to cost $1 million per 1,000 ft.

EAGLE PASS, Texas — When Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced last week that he was “immediately” putting a string of buoys in the middle of the Rio Grande in this South Texas town, there were few details and a lot of questions from local and federal officials alike.

Border Report went to Eagle Pass on Monday and learned that the buoys aren’t yet deployed in the water, but Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Chris Olivarez said that they hope to have the 1,000-foot string of buoys anchored in the international river by early July.

However, U.S. officials with the International Boundary and Water Commission say they were “surprised” by Abbott’s plans and currently are “studying” the issue, and have asked the state to send their plans for further investigation.

“This announcement by the governor caught us by surprise. Our door is always open to discussions with Texas and we have recently shared information with them about our permitting process and federal law. We are studying what Texas is publicly proposing to determine whether and how this impacts our mission to carry out treaties between the US and Mexico regarding border delineation, flood control, and water distribution, which includes the Rio Grande,” the IBWC said in a statement.

A poster illustrating new border security implementation is displayed during a news conference at the Texas State Capitol on June 8, 2023, in Austin, Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw joined bill authors, sponsors, legislators and law enforcement members in the signing of bills designated towards enhancing border …

The 4-foot-wide rotating buoys are produced by Cochrane Global and cost $1 million for 1,000 feet, Olivarez said.

“These buoys are part of a layering effect when combined with concertina wire laid on the bank of the river and the ability to quickly mobilize law enforcement to hot spots of illegal immigration,” Olivarez told Border Report.