Texas: Floating Barriers Brings Headache to Greg Abbott Instead of Relief

By Rick Martin Jul 21 2023, 23:21 PM EDT

Texas Governor Greg Abbott's controversial floating barriers and barbed wire along the Rio Grande are now facing legal scrutiny as the DOJ notified Texas that it plans to file a lawsuit regarding those barriers.

The floating barriers are part of Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star which aims to stem the number of migrants crossing the US-Mexico border illegally. However, experts have warned that these will not deter migrants from crossing and instead lead to drownings, injuries, and deaths.

According to Texas Public Radio, the DOJ letter demanded that Texas remove the buoys and razor wire along the Rio Grande by Monday, July 24. If the state does not comply, the Justice Department will seek legal action, arguing that the state violated federal law, raised humanitarian concerns, and presented public and environmental risks.

These floating barriers have also received backlash from Mexico, which filed a diplomatic complaint, arguing that Texas violated various treaties by installing the floating barriers along the Rio Grande.

"The floating barrier at issue here is a structure that obstructs the navigable capacity of the Rio Grande ... which is a navigable water of the United States within the meaning of the Rivers and Harbors Act. Texas does not have authorization from the Corps [of Engineers] to install the floating barrier and did not seek such authorization before doing so," wrote the DOJ.

The DOJ demand came after a Texas State Trooper reported human rights violations being done to migrants crossing the border, including being ordered not to give exhausted migrants any water despite the harsh Texas heat. The trooper also reported that they were ordered to push a group of exhausted migrants back to the Rio Grande and force them back to Mexico.

Greg Abbott Defends Controversial Floating Barriers

Despite the looming threat of a lawsuit from the federal government and that diplomatic complaint from Mexico, Texas Governor Greg Abbott defended the floating barriers on Twitter, tweeting, "Texas has the sovereign authority to defend our border."

His office still has not officially commented on the situation, though it is currently under fire for the myriad of possible human rights violations that the governor's policies have brought.

According to Al Jazeera News, Greg Abbott's "Operation Lone Star" also includes razor-wire fencing and having the Texas National Guard arrest migrants on trespassing charges. So far, the Texas Department of Public Safety has stated that it has launched an internal investigation regarding the Texas State Trooper's report of migrant mistreatment.

Greg Abbott's Texas Floating Barriers Left Migrant Children Wounded

One of the most dangerous barriers that Texas placed along the banks of the Rio Grande is the low-lying barbed wire fences designed to ensnare migrants trying to cross. However, the fence has managed to inflict injury on a 5-year-old migrant child.

Omar Tortua and his family traveled from Venezuela to the US-Mexico border in search of a better life, surviving the treacherous Darien Gap and cartel kidnappers along the way. However, they did not face any injuries until Tortua's 5-year-old son got caught up in a coil of concertina wire.

He spoke with People Magazine and said that Texas officers were just watching from above as he scooped up his bleeding son.

The boy, Jesus, was seen shrieking after he got caught by the barbed wire. Officials did call out to help soon after and treated the boy. However, the damage was done. Soon after Jesus was treated, the family was turned over to US Border Patrol and were processed before being released.

"I don't understand: If they were just going to arrest us and let us go, why do they have to put all that up?" the Venezuelan father said. "It doesn't seem right."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Texas Trooper's Accounts Of Injured Migrants On U.S.-Mexico Border Unleashes Criticism - News On 6/KOTV