A makeshift barrier made out of buoys has been installed in the Rio Grande by Texas officials to try and deter migrants crossing from Mexico.
The 1,000ft floating barrier was installed near Eagle Pass, Texas — which is an an illegal crossing hot spot.
It will take roughly another week before the buoys can be anchored to the river bed and the work is completed.
The Texas border with Mexico is 1,254 miles long.
Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Lt. Chris Olivarez told the New York Post: “The buoys go down a foot below the water line, so anyone wanting to get past them would have to swim at least that far down.”
So far, migrants trying to make their way into the US have not attempted to go over them or under them, Olivarez said.
“Most [migrants], they don’t want to go under water, they’re trying to scale over, like a wall,” Olivarez claimed.
“Especially with children, I think it’s going to be most effective with families who are trying to come across. Across the board, we want to prevent people from crossing the river in the first place.”
The Rio Grande stretches the entire length of the state from El Paso to the Gulf of Mexico.
In some sections the water is just ankle deep but in others it has fierce and dangerous currents.
Immigrants’ rights groups are concerned the installation of the buoys may lead to drownings but Texas governor Greg Abbott said the buoys are in place as a deterrent to stop people from even trying.
The International Boundary and Water Commission, a federal agency which is in charge of the Rio Grande said Texas never submitted a plan for the water floats or obtained permits for them.
“The State of Texas still has not contacted US [International Boundary and Water Commission] about its plans or requested a permit,” confirmed IBWC spokesman Frank Fisher.
Governor Abbott has said he will welcome any challenges in court and is prepared to take the case as far as the Supreme Court if necessary.
