Mexico City, Mexico — A judge has ordered the state of Texas to move a buoy barrier that was installed along the U.S.-Mexico border in July. On Wednesday, the Austin Judge ordered the state to move the floating border barrier that was placed in the Rio Grande to deter migrants.
The placement of the buoy was approved by Republican Governor Greg Abbott and installed July 18 at Eagle Pass. Senior U.S. District Court Judge David Ezra said he found the buoys to obstruct free navigation in the Rio Grande, which violates federal law.
He explained that permission to place the barriers is required from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a federal agency. Rather than completely remove them, Judge Ezra ordered the state to move them to the riverbank on the U.S. side.
The order to move the buoys was the result of a lawsuit filed by the Biden Administration who said the barrier impeded Border Patrol agents from patrolling the border, endangered migrants and hurt U.S.-Mexico relations.
The state of Texas has until September 15th to move the buoys. The move will be at the state’s expense.
