Trump to slam border shut with vast buoy wall, tightening grip on illegal crossing chaos



President Donald Trump's administration is gearing up to clamp down further on illegal crossings from Mexico by installing floating buoy barriers in the Rio Grande.

The Washington Examiner reported Wednesday that the Trump administration plans to place a 17-mile-long buoy wall in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.

'Gov. Abbott deployed them soon after and proved that they were very effective.'

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R), under former President Joe Biden in 2023, installed the state's own buoy barriers to curb the nation's illegal immigration crisis, particularly in the highly trafficked Eagle Pass area. The interconnected inflatable sphere buoys were four feet wide and acted as a floating fence that, when grabbed, would spin to prevent illegal aliens from being able to climb over.

It was the first time such a deterrent had been deployed along the U.S.-Mexico border, and the move faced legal challenges from the Biden administration's Department of Justice. The lawsuit claimed that Texas violated federal law by failing to obtain authorization to install the barrier. It also argued that the buoys created both environmental and safety concerns.

Trump's DOJ is expected to drop the case against Texas over its buoy wall.

According to the Washington Examiner, the first Trump administration's Border Patrol initially developed the idea of installing floating barriers. However, it never did so due to the administration change.

After former Border Patrol agent Mike Banks was hired as Texas' border czar, the state rolled out the plan independently. Banks is now the national Border Patrol chief.

The Washington Examiner reported that Texas wants to gift its 1,000-foot barrier to the Trump administration.

Selene Rodriguez with the Texas Public Policy Foundation told the news outlet that the state's implementation of the buoy wall proved effective at deterring illegal crossings.

"Left to fend for ourselves, Texas found innovative solutions to secure our border and support our law enforcement," Rodriguez stated. "The buoy barrier was a necessary measure that proved further action can be taken, and we are happy to see that measure now taken by the Trump administration."

Border czar Tom Homan told the Washington Examiner that the floating wall is "a great border barrier concept."

"[Border Patrol] was studying their use at the end of Trump 45 and thought they were an excellent method to secure the border and save lives," Homan said. "They were not deployed because the administration changed hands. Gov. Abbott deployed them soon after and proved that they were very effective. Border barriers such as walls and buoys work. The data proves it."

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Texas places more buoys in the Rio Grande despite Biden administration lawsuit



Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced the state is placing more of the border buoys in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass despite the ongoing lawsuit by the Biden-Harris administration to stop Texas' efforts.

The buoys were Texas' attempt to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into the Del Rio Sector, which has been a popular crossing area for illegal immigrants for years. Texas putting a barrier in the river, with the middle marking the end of the U.S. and the beginning of Mexico, resulted in protests from the Mexican and U.S. governments.

"Texas placed more buoys in the Rio Grande River this morning. Despite the Biden-Harris Administration’s attempts to shut down our border security efforts, the buoys are here to stay. We won't back down from our mission to deter & repel illegal immigration," Abbott posted to X on Wednesday.

While the buoys gained a lot of attention, they had limitations.

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The buoys were attacked by Democrats as being dangerous for people who were illegally crossing the river. Some dead bodies, another historic high under the Biden-Harris administration, were found entangled in the buoys after they were installed last year, but they were determined to have drowned upriver and the buoys were not the cause of death.

Texas continuing to place the water barriers in place before Joe Biden leaves the White House next year shows how serious the state is about using tools at its disposal to deter illegal immigrants. With President-elect Donald Trump returning to Washington, D.C., there has been a slight increase in illegal crossings as people want to enter the country before he takes office.

While the buoys have gained a lot of attention, they have limitations. That portion of the Rio Grande can sometimes have a very low water level to where illegal immigrants can wade in only ankle- or shin-deep. The barriers are also stationary and do not come close to blocking all areas where people have crossed into the United States.

That said, the barriers have helped direct the flow of traffic to areas with better coverage by law enforcement. The chain is further bolstered by the fences and razor wire that are along the riverbank on the U.S. side of the border.

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The Feds Just Messed With Texas Over Buoys — And Sided With Cartel-Driven Mexico

After Texas defended itself with a buoy barrier in the Rio Grande, the Biden administration went on the attack against Texans.