Mexican Authorities Blame Texas Border Buoys for Migrant Deaths, Governor Abbott Disputes Claims

Texas Governor Denies Mexican Government's Claims on Migrant Deaths

Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, has denied claims made by the Mexican government that the deaths of two migrants this week were caused by a buoy barrier installed by his state in the Rio Grande.

The bodies, believed to be of migrants attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, were discovered on Wednesday, with one found near the buoys of Abbott's newly installed border barrier. The Mexican government was the first to report the incident and attributed the deaths to the buoys, but Abbott's office has rejected this explanation.

Abbott's Spokesman Disputes Mexican Government's Claim

According to a spokesman for Texas Governor Greg Abbott, the Mexican government is incorrect in their claim that a migrant child drowned near the US-Mexico border due to the presence of border barriers. The spokesman stated that preliminary information suggests the drowning occurred before the child was even near the barriers. The Texas Department of Public Safety had previously reported to Border Patrol that the body was found floating upstream from the barriers in the Rio Grande.

The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been notified by the Texas Department of Public Safety about a dead body found in the southern part of the buoys. However, the Texas DPS has clarified that the buoy did not cause the death, as the river's stream moved the body into the buoy. The buoys are placed in a shallow area of the river, making it easy to walk across.

According to Olivarez, the water level where the body was found was not high enough for drowning to occur. He also mentioned that there were no objects or hazards in the water that could have caused harm. Additionally, Olivarez stated that the second body recovered was discovered several miles away from the marine barriers.

Mexico Criticizes Texas Governor's Barrier Plan

Mexico has criticized Texas Governor Greg Abbott's plan to build a barrier in the river, calling it a violation of their sovereignty. The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern about the impact on the human rights and personal safety of immigrants, stating that the policy goes against the close collaboration between Mexico and the US federal government.

US Government Files Lawsuit Against Texas

The U.S. government has filed a lawsuit against Texas for installing buoys along the border. The Department of Justice argues that it was illegal for Texas to put up these barriers and raises concerns about humanitarian issues.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a warning letter to Texas, stating that a floating barrier in the Rio Grande River is posing risks to navigation, public safety, and humanitarian concerns. The DOJ has filed a lawsuit arguing that Texas is violating a law from 1899 that prohibits the creation of any obstruction in the waters of the United States without authorization from Congress.

Abbott's Office Blames Biden Administration for Migrant Drownings

According to Abbott's office, migrant drownings occur frequently due to the border policies implemented by the Biden administration. The office argues that if President Biden and Mexican President Lopez Obrador were genuinely concerned about human life, they would take action to secure the border.