Buoys Divide River, Spark Concerns

0:00The Trump administration is wrapping up border security by installing over 500 miles of floating boys in the real ground, stretching from Brownsville to Laredo. This echoes what Texas governor Greg Abbott did back in 2023 near Eagle Pass, using similar barriers to stop illegal crossings. Funded through the president's big tax and spending bill, these boys aim to secure the U.S. side without crossing into Mexico. They're going in despite past legal fights and complaints for Mexico's government over Texas's setup. Locals like Elsa Hall, who's lived by the river for nearly 30 years, are speaking out. She kayaks, camps, and birds there, and worries the barriers will cut off access, spark flooding, and wreck daily life for families on both sides. Who? Depend on the water. A study from the real-grand international study center calls it a ticking time saying the buoys could trap floodwaters, boost their speed, pile, up debris, and threaten infrastructure.

1:00Environmental groups won full designs and flood assessments released now. Customs and border protection insist the barriers handle 100-year floods and won't block recreation, but critics say show the proof. With crossings already way down, this expansion raises questions about necessity versus risk to the river's flow. That's your update from El Paso News today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story.