A few weeks after a federal judge declared a floating barrier in the Rio Grande to be a safety threat, the worst has happened. Here’s the terrible story that unfolded at the border in late September.
Floating Barrier
On September 6, a federal judge ordered Texas Governor Greg Abbott to remove a floating 1000-foot barrier he’d had installed in the middle of the Rio Grande.
The purpose of the necklace-like buoy was, of course, to discourage or stop Mexican immigrants from crossing the river into the United States.
But U.S. District Judge David Ezra said that barrier was dangerous for humans.
He had some evidence to back him up, too, because a body had been found near the buoys in August.
Violating Texas Law
Ezra also noted that the barrier impeded traffic on the waterway and said that blocking that travel actually violated Texas law.
Ezra gave Abbott until September 15 to remove the barrier, but that wasn’t the end of the story.
The state took the case to another courtroom the very next day. And on September 7, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals put a hold on the original ruling.
That meant Abbott could keep his favorite toy in place until the full legal process could play out, whenever that may be.
Too Late
It proved to be way too long for one Mexican family.
The drama unfolded when Tactical Marine Unit troopers were called to the river, with reports of a child being swept away by the currents.
The troopers were able to locate the child and transport him to a nearby hospital. But the toddler was pronounced dead on arrival.
As it turned out, the child was a 3-year-old boy whose family was attempting to cross the river.
The spot they chose to come across was north of Abbott’s barrier, which blocks a more approachable section of the river.
Eagle Pass, where the barrier floats, is one of the most popular crossing points for Mexican immigrants. In fact, Border Patrol says it ranks second in the state, with about 270,000 in 2023.
Pushed Towards Danger
The area where the family tried to cross, on the other hand, is well known for having sudden drop-offs in-depth and surging currents that make it tough for even adults to maintain their footing.
Those dangers aren’t obvious to those who approach on foot, though. In fact, the water is shallow at the entry point on the Mexican side but gets treacherous in various places along the way.
And that’s precisely the reason why many of Abbott’s detractors are so opposed to the floating barrier. While it does its job of reducing crossings there at Eagle Pass, it only makes the situation worse, they say.
That’s because many immigrants don’t just turn around when they encounter the barrier. Instead, they head upstream or downstream where there are no blockades. And, in many cases, that’s a giant leap right into dangerous waters.
The post Avoiding Abbotts ‘Floating Barrier of Death’ Cost Their 3-Year-Old Son His Life first appeared on The Net Worth Of.
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