Construction crews in Eagle Pass, Texas, have begun the construction of a groundbreaking floating border barrier. This new project aims to serve as a strong deterrent for those considering crossing the border illegally in high-traffic areas along the Rio Grande.

The motivation behind this initiative stems from the serious safety risks immigrants face when attempting to traverse the treacherous river in their quest to enter the United States.

Reports from Breitbart News reveal that Lt. Chris Olivarez, spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety, shared several videos displaying the installation of a series of buoys by the construction crews.

These buoys have been put in place under the direction of Republican Governor Greg Abbott, with funding approved by the Texas Legislature. Olivarez emphasized that, in addition to deterring immigrants, these barriers will also save lives by preventing dangerous crossings.

Despite the extreme heat of a typical Texas summer, migrants continue to strive to cross from Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, into the Eagle Pass area. However, not everyone is supportive of Governor Abbott’s actions to address the escalating border crisis along the state’s boundaries.

Critics, such as Steven Mumme, a scholar at the Baker Institute Center for the United States and Mexico specializing in transboundary environmental and natural resources management, argue that Abbott’s project is an irresponsible experiment that disregards federal and international law.

Mumme further claims that the floating barriers will disrupt the river’s natural flow, which is deemed illegal, and potentially alter the U.S.-Mexico boundary. It remains uncertain whether President Biden’s administration or any federal entity will take legal action against Governor Abbott and Texas in response to these concerns or if they will remain silent in hopes of the border crisis subsiding on its own.