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Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that an inflatable border will be installed along the border between Texas and Mexico on Thursday to make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to enter the country.
The floating barriers are expected to deter illegal crossings at hotspots along the Rio Grande River, and the first 300 feet will be placed near Eagle Pass.
Texas plans to place an inflatable barrier along the Rio Grande River in Eagle Pass to deter illegal immigrants from entering the US (Texas DPS)
Photos of the inflatable barriers show what appears to be a series of connected inflatable spheres, spinning when someone tries to climb them.
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According to a press release from Abbott’s office, the strategy of placing an inflatable barrier along the border “will proactively prevent illegal crossings between ports of entry by making it more difficult to cross the Rio Grande and the Texas side of the southern reach the limit.”
Along with announcing a new border crossing barrier, Abbott signed a package of six border security bills designed to help the state “hold the line” as a greater number of illegal immigrants, guns and deadly drugs pour into Texas from Mexico.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, center, is announcing the placement of an inflatable barrier along the Rio Grande River on Thursday, June 8, 2023, along with a package of six bills he signed to bolster border efforts. (Office of Governor Greg Abbott)
Abbott continues to blame President Biden’s refusal to secure the border as the main reason for the increase in flow at the border.
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“Thanks to the leadership and hard work of (Texas Department of Public Safety) Director (Steve) McCraw, General Thomas Suelzer and their teams, Texas has pushed back against the wave of migrants and held the line to keep people out of Texas – but there is more that needs to be done,” Abbott said.
“Today I am signing six bills from this year’s regular session to ensure Texas can continue to do even more to stop illegal immigration on our southern border and provide new tools for the brave men and women along the southern border to help Texans and Americans from the chaos and crisis of the border,” he added.
Included in the package are bills authorizing the Texas military to use unmanned aerial vehicles in search and recovery missions, authorizing U.S. Border Patrol agents undergoing Texas DPS training to arrest, search, and seize at established border checkpoints , and provide compensation to landowners for property damage caused by illegal immigration activities.
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Abbott’s legislation also designates Mexican cartels and criminal organizations as foreign terrorist organizations, increasing penalties for the destruction of illegal drugs and the operation of stockhouses.
Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.
