WATCH: DHS Adopts Abbott’s Strategy, Deploying 500+ Miles of Federal Buoy Barriers Along Texas-Mexico Border

The Department of Homeland Security began installing a massive 500‑mile network of floating buoy barriers along the U.S.–Mexico border, a move that mirrors the deterrence strategy first deployed by Texas under Governor Greg Abbott as part of Operation Lone Star.

U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks announced on Friday that U.S. Customs and Border Protection began the installation of what will become 500 miles of floating border barriers along the Rio Grande in South Texas. Before assuming this role, Banks served as Governor Abbott’s Border Czar, overseeing the state-funded buoy barrier program that was aggressively opposed by the Biden administration. While only a few thousand feet of Texas buoy’s were deployed, the program proved the technology to be effective at deterring border crossings in unsecured