They Said It Couldn’t Be Done, but Texas Just Raised the Stakes – Watch Them Go All the Way!

In a bold move to strengthen its border security, Texas has deployed additional floating barriers in the Rio Grande, intensifying its controversial measures to prevent illegal crossings. The installation comes despite legal challenges from the Biden administration, which argues that these barriers violate federal laws. Governor Greg Abbott has remained steadfast, stating Texas will not waver in its mission to protect its border.

“Despite the Biden-Harris Administration’s attempts to shut down our border security efforts, the buoys are here to stay,” Abbott declared on social media, accompanying a video of large, interconnected buoys being placed in the river. The footage showed the spinning, washing machine-sized orbs designed to deter migrants from grabbing hold and crossing.

Expanding a Contentious Barrier

This week’s additions build upon the 1,000-foot barrier first installed near Eagle Pass in June 2023. The area, known for frequent incidents of drug trafficking and human smuggling, has been a focal point of Texas’ border enforcement strategy. The floating barricades, which are highly visible and physically daunting, have reportedly been effective in reducing crossings.

“These have been so successful that not a single migrant has attempted to cross over them,” said Abbott spokesman Andrew Mahaleris, highlighting the measure’s perceived success.

While the buoys represent only a small part of the 1,200-mile Texas-Mexico border, their presence near high-traffic zones like Eagle Pass appears to have had a notable impact. Officials report that crossings in the area plummeted from 38,000 in the same month last year to 8,500 last month, a significant decline.

Federal Pushback and Legal Battles

The deployment of the floating barriers has sparked an intense legal battle between Texas and the Biden administration. The federal government filed a lawsuit against the state, arguing that the buoys violate the Rivers and Harbors Act, which governs structures placed in navigable waters. Initially, a district court sided with the Biden administration and ordered the barriers removed. However, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals later ruled in Texas’ favor, allowing the barricades to remain.

The legal dispute now heads toward the Supreme Court, where its ultimate fate will be decided. Despite the ongoing litigation, Governor Abbott has doubled down on the state’s border security efforts, expressing confidence in Texas’ right to protect its borders.

“Despite the Biden Administration fighting us every step of the way, courts have ruled that Texas has the right to deploy floating marine barriers, and Texas is installing even more of these barriers to stop illegal immigration into our state,” Mahaleris said.

Political and Strategic Implications

Texas’ actions have come as officials brace for a potential surge in migration, driven by fears that unauthorized crossings could spike before the upcoming presidential transition. However, some reports suggest the anticipated influx has yet to materialize.

At the same time, the Biden administration has sought to address mounting public concerns over border security by imposing stricter rules on asylum seekers. These restrictions make it harder for individuals entering the U.S. illegally to remain in the country. This policy, combined with state-level measures like Texas’ buoys, appears to have contributed to the overall decrease in border crossings in recent months.

What’s Next for Texas’ Border Strategy?

While the floating barriers have shown results in specific areas, critics argue they are far from a comprehensive solution to border security. With only a fraction of the border covered, much of the responsibility for managing crossings still falls on federal and local law enforcement.

For Governor Abbott, however, the message is clear: Texas will continue to take matters into its own hands, regardless of federal opposition. As the debate intensifies and the Supreme Court prepares to weigh in, the floating barriers remain both a symbol of state defiance and a flashpoint in the national conversation on immigration.

“We won’t back down from our mission to deter & repel illegal immigration,” Abbott said, underscoring his administration’s commitment to its controversial approach.