The water buoys installed by Texas to stop unlawful border crossing are at the center of federal litigation and public scrutiny, but top state officials say they are a humane and effective deterrent method.
Mike Banks, the official border czar appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott, recently demonstrated how the buoys function to Bethany Blankley of The Center Square.
Border Czar Mike Banks describes how the marine barriers work in Eagle Pass, Texas. #OperationLoneStar #TheBorderReport @GovAbbott @GregAbbott_TX 1 of 2 pic.twitter.com/GQeokkcBE2
— Bethany Blankley (@BethanyBlankley) August 21, 2023
Pointing to several sections of the buoys on land near the border, Banks said, “This is something that is commonly used in law enforcement to protect U.S. ships or other ships to prevent someone from being able to swim up to the ship and [do] harm to it.”
“While I was still in the border patrol, this was being tested by the border patrol as a way to put infrastructure in the river right along the U.S. international boundary,” he noted. “It’s cheaper than an actual physical wall. It’s also not affixed, so we can easily move it to other locations.”
Banks demonstrated that the buoys operate on a ratchet system that only allows them to roll toward Mexico rather than Texas if someone is trying to climb over them.
Previously, claims had surfaced that the buoys had been installed on the Mexican side of the border, potentially violating international treaties.
In a Monday press conference at the Southern border with four other governors, Gov. Abbott addressed this issue, explaining, “There were allegations, that I don’t know if they were true or not, that the buoys had drifted toward the Mexico side.”
“Out of an abundance of caution, Texas went back and moved the buoys to a location where it is clear they are on the United States side and not on the Mexico side,” the governor said at the time.
Referencing other rumors that have circulated about the floating barrier, Banks pointed to the metal disks between the orange buoys that had been called razor blades.
“I’ve heard them called all kinds of things,” he said, explaining that the metal piece was designed to prevent people from cutting the cable joining the buoys together.
To show that the metal disk would not hurt people trying to cross the barriers, Banks placed his hand on the part and leaned his body weight against it.
“I’m over 200 lbs., and I’m going to lean in with all my weight to show you that this is not a saw, this is not sharpened,” he demonstrated. “I’m pushing hard. It doesn’t cut you, it doesn’t even pierce the skin. It’s not designed to.”
“Is it designed to be uncomfortable? Sure,” Banks noted. “It’s designed to be uncomfortable.”
Border Czar Mike Banks refutes claims that people died from the buoys in Eagle Pass, Texas. #OperationLoneStar #TheBorderReport then two gov handles 2 of 2 pic.twitter.com/Y0hvDggyHW
— Bethany Blankley (@BethanyBlankley) August 21, 2023
“One of the things you hear a lot is that two migrants have died crossing the buoys,” he continued, referring to another claim that had garnered the public’s attention. “That’s absolutely false. Not a single migrant has attempted to cross these buoys since they’ve been placed in the river.”
The buoys are under constant surveillance from law enforcement and emergency personnel, the border czar said. The two bodies in question are said to have drowned in other parts of the river, and one had drifted downstream before being caught by the buoys, as reported by The Dallas Express.
“The people who are trying to turn [the buoy system] into some type of death device need to take a look at these open border policies that are creating the draw to pull these migrants across the river,” he urged. “That’s what’s causing the deaths because it’s encouraging these migrants to put their lives at risk.”
While Texas officials like Abbott have similarly denounced the Biden administration’s approach to border security, the Department of Homeland Security has maintained, “The Administration’s plan is working as intended.”
As reported by The Dallas Express, the federal government has sued Texas, demanding that the state remove the buoys. However, Abbott has promised to take the matter all the way to the Supreme Court.
Not all officials from Texas support Abbott’s initiatives to secure the border. Operation Lone Star has been the subject of criticism, suggesting that it has led to inhumane treatment of those attempting to enter the country unlawfully.
Texas Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio) recently sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding an investigation into the border security measures being implemented by his state.
“Since he launched Operation Lone Star more than two years ago, Gov. Abbott has taken drastic measures to curb illegal immigration,” Gutierrez claimed. “What began as a farce has now turned into violent, horrifying injuries and death.”
