{"id":2424339,"date":"2025-04-16T16:15:02","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T20:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-to-install-17-miles-of-buoys-in-border-river-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-04-16T16:15:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T20:15:51","slug":"trump-to-install-17-miles-of-buoys-in-border-river-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-to-install-17-miles-of-buoys-in-border-river-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump to install 17 miles of buoys in border river &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-to-install-17-miles-of-buoys-in-border-river-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2424339&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Trump administration plans too install a 17-mile buoy wall in the Rio Grande River at the U.S.-Mexico border, marking the first floating barrier of its kind. The construction is set to begin soon in South Texas, specifically in the historically busy Rio Grande valley region known for illegal crossings. This follows a similar project initiated by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who previously installed a mile of buoys upstream.<\/p>\n<p>Proponents, including White House border czar tom Homan, argue that buoy barriers are an effective way to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-rep-budd-introduces-bill-to-force-biden-to-build-the-border-wall\/\" title=\"EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Budd Introduces Bill To Force Biden To Build The ... Wall\">enhance border security<\/a> and reduce illegal immigration. The idea originated during Trump&#8217;s presidency but was not implemented under the Biden administration. Texas officials believe the buoy barrier is a necessary measure to deter illegal crossings and applaud Abbott&#8217;s innovative approach.<\/p>\n<p>However, the plan has faced legal challenges. The Biden administration sought to remove existing buoys, citing safety concerns and violations of international agreements, leading to a lawsuit against Abbott. Despite these challenges, the court allowed Texas to maintain control of the buoys.As the Trump administration intends to take over the management,Texas is preparing to transfer control of the buoy system,indicating a potential shift in border security strategy as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dozens-killed-and-injured-after-mass-shooter-hits-2-maine-locations-suspect-still-at-large\/\" title=\"Multiple fatalities and injuries reported in Maine as mass shooter targets two locations ... Suspect remains at large.\">issue remains contentious<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump administration to install 17 miles of buoys in river at US-Mexico border<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2073422\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>EXCLUSIVE &mdash;<\/strong> The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Trump administration\">Trump administration<\/a> will soon deploy the federal government&rsquo;s first-ever floating buoy wall at the U.S.-Mexico border river with the installation of a 17-mile string of buoys in South <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Texas\">Texas<\/a> shortly, the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> has learned.<\/p>\n<p>The construction project is scheduled to begin in the coming weeks in the Rio Grande in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Texas<\/a>&lsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lower-rio-grande-valley\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Rio Grande Valley<\/a>, which has historically been the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/790119\/illegal-immigrants-apprehended-during-media-ride-along-with-border-patrol\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">busiest<\/a> area along the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/border\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">border<\/a> for illegal crossings, according to four officials with firsthand knowledge of the plan.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3382327\/florida-ag-uthmeier-shareholder-responsibility-companies-investing-dei\/\">Florida AG cites shareholder responsibility in stark warning to companies investing in DEI: &#8216;We are watching&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3381815\/cody-balmer-suspect-shapiro-arson-attack-israel-gaza-conflict\/\">Arson suspect targeted Josh Shapiro over governor&#8217;s views on Israel-Hamas war: Warrant<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3381394\/virginia-safest-city-purcellville-votes-dismantle-police-department\/\">Virginia&#8217;s &#8216;safest city&#8217; votes to dismantle police department<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The Trump administration&rsquo;s decision to put a floating barrier in the middle of the river comes after Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) made the unprecedented move in 2023 to install a mile of buoys further upstream in the same river between Eagle Pass, Texas, and Mexico&rsquo;s Piedras Negras, Coahuila.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Buoys are a great border barrier concept,&rdquo; White House border czar Tom Homan told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> on Wednesday. &ldquo;[Border Patrol] was studying their use at the end of Trump 45 and thought they were an excellent method to secure the border and save lives.&nbsp;They were not deployed because the administration changed hands. Gov. Abbott deployed them soon after and proved that they were very effective. Border barriers such as walls and buoys work. The data proves it.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Migrants crossing into the U.S. from Mexico walk along large buoys being used as a floating border barrier on the Rio Grande Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas. (AP Photo\/Eric Gay)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Two officials added that Customs and Border Protection has &ldquo;hundreds of miles of wall being planned&rdquo; and that the buoys in the Rio Grande Valley were &ldquo;just the start&rdquo; to enhancing border security.<\/p>\n<p>Since President Donald Trump&rsquo;s arrival in office in January, Border Patrol apprehensions of illegal immigrants have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3354371\/border-patrol-mission-shifting-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">dropped<\/a> more than 90% across the southern border. Despite the significant decline, the Trump administration is adamant about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3354371\/border-patrol-mission-shifting-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">shoring up<\/a> the border to ensure it is left secure before leaving office.<\/p>\n<p>Selene Rodriguez works for the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation think tank in Austin and&nbsp;said the buoys are a proven method to deter illegal immigration.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Left to fend for ourselves, Texas found innovative solutions to secure our border and support our law enforcement,&rdquo; Rodriguez, director for TPPF&rsquo;s Secure and Sovereign Texas campaign, wrote in an email. &ldquo;The buoy barrier was a necessary measure that proved further action can be taken, and we are happy to see that measure now taken by the Trump administration.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">History of the buoys<\/h2>\n<p>Border Patrol developed the idea of using buoys as a barrier during the first Trump administration, but because the Biden administration did not support it, the federal agency never implemented it. Texas latched on to the buoy idea after hiring former Border Patrol agent Mike Banks to be the state&rsquo;s border czar. Banks is now the national Border Patrol chief.<\/p>\n<p>The floating barriers were put in place in 2023 to deal with high levels of illegal immigration in Eagle Pass.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Courtesy image: This photo shows the mile of buoys installed by the state in Eagle Pass, Texas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>In May 2023, Border Patrol&rsquo;s remotely located Del Rio Sector, which includes Eagle Pass,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2573676\/texas-locals-buoyed-by-abbotts-radical-border-river-barrier-plans-but-will-it-sink-or-swim\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a>&nbsp;more than 26,000 illegal immigrant arrests, according to Customs and Border Protection&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbp.gov\/newsroom\/stats\/nationwide-encounters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">data<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The following month, as immigrants were crossing from Mexico, Abbott&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/1487878\/gov-greg-abbott-employs-buoys-to-secure-texas-border\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">announced<\/a>&nbsp;the state would install a 1,000-foot strip of buoys to prevent river crossings. The project&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcdfw.com\/news\/local\/texas-news\/texas-to-install-a-string-of-buoys-to-deter-migrants-from-crossing-the-rio-grande\/3273761\/?amp=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cost $1 million<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The barrier, essentially the maritime version of a wall, was meant to deter immigrants from crossing in certain areas. Other <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">nearby areas contained long stretches<\/a> of concertina wire that the Texas National Guard had put up on the U.S. riverbank.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Biden administration fights the buoys<\/h2>\n<p>The Biden administration asked Abbott to take down the buoys in July 2023, but Abbott refused. The government of Mexico also&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/141433\/mexico-files-complaint-against-greg-abbotts-buoys-in-rio-grande\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sent<\/a>&nbsp;Texas a complaint over the buoys, saying they risked violating the 1944 Water Treaty.<\/p>\n<p>The Justice Department&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/courts\/doj-suit-texas-rio-grande-barrier\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">filed<\/a>&nbsp;a lawsuit against Abbott that ordered the state to remove the floating barrier because it posed &ldquo;threats to navigation and public safety and presents humanitarian concerns.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Two dead bodies, presumably immigrants who attempted to cross the Rio Grande from Mexico, were&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/bodies-found-tangled-greg-abbott-rio-grande-border-buoys\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">found<\/a>&nbsp;alongside the buoys in August 2023, according to the Mexican government. Texas officials&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2763870\/buoys-at-texas-border-have-led-to-decrease-in-immigrant-drownings-lt-gov-dan-patrick\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">disputed<\/a>&nbsp;Mexico&rsquo;s claim that the bodies were tangled in the buoys and said only one body was found and that the person drowned upstream and drifted downstream toward the buoys.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dozens of large buoys that are set to be deployed in the Rio Grande are unloaded on Friday, July 7, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas, where border crossings continue to place stress on local resources. | (AP Photo\/Eric Gay)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>In court, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/biden-administration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Biden administration<\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2452006\/biden-doj-takes-abbott-to-court-to-take-down-border-buoys\/\">pushed<\/a>&nbsp;Judge David Ezra of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, a Reagan appointee, to side against the Abbott administration.<\/p>\n<p>Texas attorneys&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2436960\/texas-and-biden-administration-to-face-off-in-court-over-floating-buoy-wall-at-border\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">argued<\/a>&nbsp;that the &ldquo;invasion&rdquo; at the international border bestowed upon the state the right to defend itself.<\/p>\n<p>The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/rio-grande-barrier-buoys-texas-border-migrants-bc6362349fc5952a8d9089fe9cfe09af\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">allowed<\/a> Texas to keep the buoys in the river, but the appeals panel later&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2432317\/appeals-court-orders-texas-to-remove-floating-rio-grande-barriers-at-southern-border\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sided<\/a>&nbsp;with the lower court.<\/p>\n<p>In mid-2024, the appeals court decided Ezra should never have granted the Biden administration a preliminary injunction.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Texas looks to gift its buoys to Trump<\/h2>\n<p>Texas is waiting for the Trump administration to drop the case, with the Justice Department moving quickly behind the scenes to dissolve legal challenges to the buoys.<\/p>\n<p>On Feb. 3, the DOJ filed an unopposed request that the court stay, or stop, all court proceedings, citing a &ldquo;change in the presidential administration.&rdquo; Court documents show that Ezra agreed to the order and signed on Feb. 7, which could expedite the buoy transfer.<\/p>\n<p>The buoys&nbsp;Abbott installed in Eagle Pass could soon be a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3336353\/greg-abbott-border-buoys-pay-off-nearly-sank-under-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">welcome gift<\/a> to the Trump administration from Abbott. Texas is in the process of shifting control of the buoys to be under federal control by the Trump administration.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3380708\/trump-new-plan-militarize-border-miles-long-army-base\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">TRUMP EYES NEW PLAN TO MILITARIZE THE BORDER: TURN IT INTO A MILES-LONG ARMY BASE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The head of the Texas Department of Public Safety, the police force that has overseen the installation and management of the buoys, declared in February that the 2,000-foot floating barrier would soon be entrusted to the Trump administration to manage.<\/p>\n<p>DHS, CBP, and Abbott&rsquo;s office did not respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2073422\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2073422\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump to install 17 miles of buoys at US-Mexico border<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2655,"featured_media":2424340,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/eagle-pass-border-buoys.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[3811,51770,3813,3634],"class_list":["post-2424339","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-border","tag-buoys","tag-immigration","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/eagle-pass-border-buoys.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2424339","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2655"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2424339"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2424339\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2424343,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2424339\/revisions\/2424343"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2424340"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2424339"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2424339"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2424339"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}