The heavy rains recorded in southern Texas caused the Rio Grande to overflow, which ended up detaching part of the floating wall of buoys promoted by Governor Greg Abbott as part of his border security strategy. Hundreds of structures were left adrift near Eagle Pass, causing concern among authorities and residents.

The incident forced the temporary closure of the International Bridge II during the early hours of July 17, while emergency teams evaluated the risk posed by the buoys carried away by the current.

The buoys were out of control after the river flooded

The buoys, which were installed in 2023 to make the irregular crossing of immigrants through the Rio Grande difficult, weigh more than a ton each and, according to local reports, cannot be easily removed due to the lack of specialized machinery.

Given the strength of the current, authorities also issued an alert in Laredo, since there is a possibility that the structures will continue moving downstream.

Criticism of Greg Abbott's project grows

The incident revived questions against the floating wall. Democratic Congressman from Texas, Joaquín Castro, described the project as a failure and assured that the buoys represent a danger to border communities.

“Abbott's buoys were an irresponsible idea from the beginning and border communities remain in danger,” he said in a statement.

Since its installation, the barrier has faced lawsuits and criticism for its environmental impact and the risks for those who travel through the river. Businessman Jessie Fuentes, one of the first to challenge the project, maintained that the structure altered the natural course of the Rio Grande and damaged the islets in the area.

While work continues to locate and secure the buoys, the episode once again puts the effectiveness of the measures promoted by Texas to reinforce the border between the United States and Mexico at the center of the debate.