In an attempt to secure the border and prevent illegal immigrant crossings, drug smuggling and other criminal behavior, Texas Governor Greg Abbott initiated the installation of a floating barrier with buoys on the Rio Grande River.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) explained that the buoys arrived last Friday, and they decided to begin installation that same day.

The project began near Eagle Pass, which has become a significant entry point for illegal border crossings in the last year. However, the barrier can be extended and even moved if required.

“We can put mile after mile after mile of these buoys,” the governor reported during the press conference announcing his floating barrier plan.

How does the barrier work?

According to reports, the barrier will be made up of giant buoys that are four to six feet high and will have straps underneath that will prevent people from swimming under them.

“This is to deter them (migrants) from even coming in the water,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “This has been tested a number of times a number of ways by special operators, tactical operators, specialists with border control and because of the water and the buoyancy of these, it’s very difficult to be able to go through these, very difficult to come over it,” he added.

Operation Lone Star

The floating barrier is part of an ongoing multi-agency effort to detect and control criminal behavior at the U.S.-Mexico border.

According to the Texas governor’s office, the operation has already succeeded in arresting more than 380,000 illegal immigrants and 30,000 criminals, more than 28,500 for felonies. Authorities have also seized more than 421 million lethal doses of fentanyl.