Lawmakers are at odds over who came up with the idea of floating barriers to block illegal immigration, with one senior Democrat claiming credit for an initiative much heralded by Republicans.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott launched buoys in the Rio Grande to much fanfare in 2023 as part of efforts to tackle a surge in undocumented migrants entering the US from Mexico.
However, Rep. Henry Cuellar told Newsweek that he was first to put the idea to U.S. Border Patrol.
“A lot of people don’t know this, but actually, I was the one years ago who suggested that to Border Patrol because I did not want the wall. I said, if you put a wall in Texas in the river, you’re about a quarter mile away. So when somebody crosses and touches the riverbanks, they can claim asylum,” Cuellar said.
Buoy barriers emerged as part of Operation Lone Star, an $11 billion program launched by Abbott in 2021 as a response to the US migration crisis.
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Cuellar, who represents Texas’s 28th congressional district, said:”I prefer buoys over building a fence and taking private property away.
“The state plays a role, but combining their resources, personnel, and equipment with federal agencies would do a better job at securing the border.”
Governor Greg Abbott’s office appeared to counter Cuellar’s claim, suggesting that the credit for floating barriers lies with U.S. Border Patrol.
A senior Abbott aide, Andrew Mahaleris, told Newsweek: “The floating marine barriers deployed by Texas were designed by Border Patrol to deny illegal entry.
“When President Biden refused to use them, Texas stepped up and deployed the barriers to deter and repel illegal river crossings—these have been so successful that not a single migrant has attempted to cross over them.
“Until the federal government steps up and does its job to secure the border, Texas will continue utilizing every tool and strategy to respond to the border crisis and protect Texans.”
Newsweek has contacted Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for comment via email.
The current buoy barrier has sparked controversy, with critics citing safety risks and environmental concerns, while supporters argue it effectively curtails unauthorized crossings.
The congressman’s comments could reshape the narrative surrounding the origins of the buoy strategy, adding a bipartisan dimension to a debate that has largely been polarized along party lines.
Operation Lone Star encountered a setback after the newly installed floating barriers had to be removed by local authorities after less than a week.
The governor’s office said they were removed from the Rio Grande due to “construction issues.”
Texas has faced criticism and legal challenges over the buoys. The Biden administration and other critics argue that the state’s actions may overstep federal authority.
“I think under the new administration, they will be more conducive to working with the state (of Texas) on buoys,” Cueller said.
Cuellar told Newsweek he is planning to meet with border czar Tom Homan this week or next week in Washington DC.
He revealed that he would discuss approximately 20 policies with the incoming border czar, focusing on border security, mass deportations, and other aspects of immigration policy.
Cuellar has not always voted on party lines in the immigration debate and was one of six House Democrats who voted with the GOP to condemn Vice President Kamala Harris for failing in her duties as “border czar.”
Three years prior, Biden had given Harris the task of coordinating diplomatic relationships in the hopes of improving conditions in countries like El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras that would, in theory, encourage would-be migrants to stay put.
At the time, Biden said he was giving her a “tough job” but that she was “the most qualified person to do it.”
Harris did secure $4.2 billion in private-sector investments for employment opportunities in Central America. It was intended to stifle the flow of migrants out of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
