Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Friday the installation of a “marine barrier” along the U.S.-Mexico border as part of the state’s efforts to combat illegal immigration. The move, which aims to prevent migrants from crossing the Rio Grande, has attracted criticism from left-wing groups.
Abbott took to Twitter to share the news: “New marine barrier installation on the Rio Grande begins today. Texas DPS is overseeing the project in Eagle Pass. More to come.”
Last month, Abbott unveiled the plan for the barrier, which consists of orange buoys. It is a component of Operation Lone Star, a comprehensive operation launched by Texas to address the border crisis in the absence of decisive action from the federal government.
Abbott’s actions, including the transportation of migrants to “sanctuary” jurisdictions and the construction of a state border wall, have generated controversy. Texas officials believe that the marine barrier will deter individuals from attempting to cross the dangerous river. The installation process is expected to take around two weeks.
Some environmental activists have expressed concerns about the potential adverse impact of the barriers. Demonstrations near the border, which included a prayer for the river, have been held by these groups.
According to a Texas ACLU attorney, the installation of the buoys is merely another step in Abbott’s attempt to manufacture a crisis at the border. They argue that the barriers fail to address the root causes of migration and are a stain on Texas’s moral conscience.
The Washington Post reports that the barrier will incorporate a layer of webbing to prevent individuals from swimming underneath it, covering a 1,000-foot stretch near Eagle Pass.
The deployment of the marine barrier comes at a time when border crossings have decreased somewhat compared to the peak levels witnessed during the crisis, which has persisted for three years. Although encounters have dropped since the implementation of a new strategy on May 11, there were still over 200,000 migrant encounters in May. The Biden administration has called for increased funding and the passage of immigration reform legislation.
However, Republicans oppose including amnesty for millions of undocumented immigrants already in the country and contend that the Biden administration’s “catch-and-release” policies have incentivized the crisis.
It is worth noting that Adam Shaw, a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, contributed to this report.
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