A top official from Mexico claimed on Thursday that the buoys placed in the Rio Grande River by Texas are on the Mexican side of the border, which may be a violation of multiple treaties.
Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alicia Bárcena spoke at a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and claimed, “Most of the buoys are on the Mexican side.”
“Obviously, our petition, our demand is that these buoys be removed. We have already issued two diplomatic notes that have been received by the federal government. This is an action on the part of a state government that obviously is causing problems that – along the border, not just affecting that state,” said Bárcena at the press conference.
Bárcena referenced two diplomatic letters sent to the U.S. in July alleging the buoys may be breaking treaties from 1944 and 1970 regarding borders and water, per AP.
Mexico has continually expressed disapproval of the buoys, writing in a statement that “the placement of chained buoys by Texas authorities is a violation of our sovereignty.”
“We express our concern about the impact on the human rights and personal safety of migrants of these state policies, which run counter to the close collaboration between our country and the United States federal government,” wrote Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release.
The U.S. has also expressed its concern, prompting the Department of Justice to file a lawsuit against the State of Texas over the barriers, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
“This floating barrier poses threats to navigation and public safety and presents humanitarian concerns. Additionally, the presence of the floating barrier has prompted diplomatic protests by Mexico and risks damaging U.S. foreign policy,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, per The Dallas Express.
During Thursday’s press conference, Bárcena said she is grateful that the DOJ is suing Texas and that she hopes to “receive good news over the course of this month.”
When asked why the U.S. has not done more to remove the buoys to this point, Blinken explained the need for legal remedies.
“From my perspective, simply put, we’re a country and a government that proceeds by rule of law. And in this case, the Department of Justice has gone to court to sue seeking two things: one, the removal of the buoys; two, an injunction against any further construction of buoys,” said Blinken at the press conference.
“So we need to let this legal process play out.”
Despite the statements made by officials from both Mexico and the U.S., Texas has remained steadfast in keeping them in place.
“First of all, the statute on which the lawsuit is based does not seem to apply to the buoys that are at issue,” said Gov. Greg Abbott, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
“But second, even if it does, I believe that the constitutional right of the state of Texas to secure our border and to defend our sovereignty supersedes any statute.”
Although the lawsuit is just beginning, Abbott said, “Texas is going to take this case all the way to the United States Supreme Court to defend the rights guaranteed to us in the United States Constitution,” per The Dallas Express.