Texas Border: U.S. Sues Abbott Over River Barrier; Biden Urged To Stop "Operation Lone Star"

Photo byOffice of Texas Governor Greg Abbott

The Biden Administration will sue Texas to force the removal of Governor Greg Abbott's "Floating Border Wall" in Eagle Pass. Meanwhile, 80 Democratic Congress members are calling on the President to force an end to the Governor's "Operation Lone Star."

Rio Grande Bouys Spark Lawsuit

News that the U.S. Department of Justice will sue the State of Texas over a Rio Grande buoy barrier to deter illegal crossings was first reported by the Washington Bureau of Hearst's Texas Newspapers.

“This floating barrier poses a risk to navigation, as well as public safety, in the Rio Grande River, and it presents humanitarian concerns. Thus, we intend to seek appropriate legal remedies, which may include seeking injunctive relief requiring the removal of obstructions or other structures in the Rio Grande River,” Hearst quotes from the letter.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott's response? "We will see you in court."

This is the second lawsuit Governor Abbott is facing over the river barrier. An Eagle Pass river guide filed suit against the state earlier this month.

The Governor has promised to fight court challenges to his river barrier all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court:

Meanwhile, Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro has sent a letter to President Biden signed by almost 90 Democratic Members of Congress demanding the federal government to step in and stop Governor Abbott's "Operation Lone Star" Border Security program altogether:

The Congressional letter follows reports by The Washington Bureau of the Houston Chronicle & San Antonio Express-News - that an "email from a Department of Public Safety trooper ... described the actions (by "Operation Lone Star" against migrants) as “inhumane.” 

According to the trooper's email to superiors, the newspapers report that "officers ... have been ordered to push children into the Rio Grande, and have been told not to give water to migrants."

The trooper/paramedic who wrote the email said he is supportive of "Operation Lone Star" but disturbed by the orders of superiors in carrying out the mission.

Since then, the Texas Department of Public Safety has been emphasizing the medical aid provided to migrants by officers assigned to "Operation Lone Star" in Eagle Pass where the whistleblower alleged the abuses to have occurred:

Finally - as if there is not enough controversy over Governor Abbott's 1,000-foot, $1 million dollar "floating border wall" - The Washington Post has reported that - in 2020 - the Trump Administration rejected a proposal to install the same buoy barriers in the Rio Grande and that "(U.S. Customs & Border Protection) opted against installing the buoy system because it was expected to increase drownings and risks to U.S. agents conducting water rescues".

2020 Border Patrol swimming pool test of river buoy barrier system installed in Rio Grande by Texas in 2023Photo byU.S. Customs & Border Protection/U.S. Border Patrol

Photos of the Border Patrol testing the buoy barriers in a swimming pool before reaching that conclusion then have also surfaced:

Swimming pool test of Cochrane USA river buoy barrier system by U.S. Border Patrol (2020)Photo byU.S. Customs & Border Protection/U.S. Border Patrol

Should Texas be forced to remove the Rio Grande river barrier or end "Operation Lone Star"? Share your opinions in the comments to this article.

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Other stories by Jack Beavers about Texas Border issues include:

• Texas Border: River Barrier Lawsuit, Protest, Controversy
• Texas Border: River Barrier Opposed; George Santos Weighs In
• Texas Border: Barrier Building Begins
• Texas Border: Floating Barrier Concerns Grow

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