In a significant incident near Eagle Pass, Texas, about 100 buoys intended as anti-immigration deterrents by the federal government drifted into the Rio Grande. This unforeseen event led to the temporary closure of two key bridges along the U.S.-Mexico border for approximately three hours, reopening just after midnight Friday.
City Manager Homero Balderas reported that the city decided to shut down transit at the bridges while evaluating whether the buoys posed a potential threat. The bridges are crucial for local transit, with around 9,000 vehicles crossing daily between Eagle Pass and Las Piedras.
Balderas emphasized the economic importance of the bridges, noting that they are the city’s primary funding source. Fortunately, he stated, the floating buoys did not pose an immediate danger to the structures. “It is very detrimental. Luckily, we were able to temporarily close, just to make sure that there were no safety concerns with the buoys floating downriver and obviously passing under the bridges,” he said.
The situation was exacerbated by rising river levels in the Rio Grande, which were expected to reach a moderate crest around 7 p.m. Friday. This rise was attributed to relentless rainfall affecting the Hill Country and parts of southeast Texas, as forecasted by the National Weather Service.
A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection indicated that a government contractor was responsible for the improperly deployed buoys, which were staged at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass. They are currently collaborating with the agency to retrieve the drifting buoys, noting that they were not ready to be deployed or anchored in the river.
“Waterborne barriers are intended to create a safer border environment for patrolling agents, as well as deter migrants from attempting to illegally cross the border through dangerous waterways,” the spokesperson added, outlining the intended purpose behind the buoys.
State Representative Eddie Morales Jr., who represents Eagle Pass, took to social media to announce that efforts to remove the adrift buoys had already commenced. He also mentioned that shipping containers and temporary fencing had been cleared from Shelby Park.
In his statement, Morales expressed his concerns regarding the buoys, stating they created “more unnecessary obstacles for first responders.” He has consistently opposed the deployment of these buoys, arguing they are ineffective and have led to adverse consequences. “There is deep concern not just with the buoys, but the hundreds of miles of razor wire that may have been dislodged from the riverbank as well,” he noted. Morales emphasized the need for discussions about removing such barriers to restore normalcy while ensuring border safety and security.
