Man’s Body Found in Texas Border Barrier Buoys
The body of a man who drowned in the Rio Grande was discovered on Wednesday in the floating barrier of buoys installed by the state of Texas to deter migrant crossings from Mexico, officials reported. The man, who has not been identified, was found near the small border city of Eagle Pass, Texas, where the barrier extends for approximately 1,000 feet in the middle of the river.
Mexican officials stated that they were alerted by Texas state police around 2:35 p.m. that the body was caught in the southern part of the buoys. However, officials from the Texas Department of Public Safety believe that the man drowned farther up the river and then floated down to the barrier. Steve McCraw, the director of the department, stated, “Preliminary information suggests this individual drowned upstream from the marine barrier and floated into the buoys.”
The placement of the buoys has been a point of contention between Texas and Mexico. The Mexican government argues that the buoys are a violation of sovereignty and raises concerns about the impact on the human rights and safety of migrants. This comes as Texas Governor Greg Abbott continues his multibillion-dollar program, Operation Lone Star, to utilize state law enforcement in deterring illegal crossings from Mexico.
Under Operation Lone Star, migrants who manage to cross the river and reach private land in Texas are arrested and charged with criminal trespassing by state police. In recent weeks, there have been reports of fathers being separated from their children during these arrests, a departure from previous policies. Advocates for immigrant rights, as well as Democrats in Texas and Washington, have voiced objections to these harsh tactics employed by the state.
The installation of the buoy barrier prompted the federal government to file a lawsuit against Abbott, arguing that it violates federal law and has caused diplomatic protests by Mexico. The federal government is seeking a court order to remove the buoys, claiming that they create additional dangers for migrants trying to cross the fluctuating waters of the Rio Grande.
Local officials have noted a decrease in reported drownings in the last few weeks. While there were reports of two bodies found near the barrier, the Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed that the body discovered in the buoy barrier was the only one found by state police on Wednesday. Mexican officials also found the body of a second man who drowned a few miles from the barrier.
Drownings remain a common cause of death among migrants attempting to cross the Rio Grande. Valeria Wheeler, executive director of Mission: Border Hope, a respite center in Eagle Pass, emphasized that drownings were happening even before the installation of the barrier. She described the situation as “awful” and highlighted the need for better solutions to protect the safety of migrants.