The United States Department of Justice notified Texas that the recent installation of several giant buoys in the Rio Grande to prevent the passage of migrant individuals violates federal law and raises humanitarian concerns. Therefore, they urged Texan authorities to remove them. If they fail to do so, they warned that a lawsuit could be filed against the state of Texas.

 

Let's remember that the buoys were placed in the Rio Grande as part of a controversial immigration operation initiated by Texas Governor Greg Abbott to halt the flow of people between Piedras Negras, Coahuila, and Eagle Pass, Texas. The installation of these buoys sparked protests from migrant advocacy organizations, which pointed out that the equipment set up by Abbott's administration could lead to drowning deaths.

 

Political analyst Stephen Mumme told a media outlet that the state of Texas is not authorized to build border barriers since that falls under the jurisdiction of Homeland Security. And that's not all.

 

Environmental activist Waldo Terry informed a newspaper that the floating wall violates a treaty between Mexico and the USA, which states that no constructions or obstacles should be placed in the water flow between the two countries.

 

The Mexican government sent a diplomatic note to the USA, notifying the administration of Joe Biden that the placement of the floating wall does indeed violate the 1944 International Water Treaty and requested its removal. Despite all of the above, Governor Greg Abbott stated via Twitter that Texas has "sovereign authority" to protect its border and is willing to resolve the case in court.