Texas Governor Greg Abbott is at the forefront of efforts to deter migrants from crossing the Rio Grande into the United States. According to the Houston Chronicle, officers who were working for Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s border security were ordered to push small children and babies back into the Rio Grande.

Last week, Texas began installing buoys and razor wire near Eagle Pass as part of Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, which aims to prevent migrants from making the perilous journey and reduce drowning-related deaths in the river.

However, this latest initiative has sparked legal concerns and faced backlash from various quarters. Mexico’s incoming secretary of foreign affairs, Alicia Bárcena, has asserted that the buoys violate water treaties between Mexico and the United States. A 1944 water treaty is at the center of the dispute, with Mexico sending a letter to the U.S. in June, expressing its objections to Texas’ flotation devices.

The issue has also drawn congressional pushback, with El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar leading a group of Democratic delegates from Texas in expressing safety and environmental concerns about the buoys. They argue that Abbott’s installation of floating barriers in the Rio Grande is a dangerous political stunt that prioritizes posturing over the well-being of both Texans and migrants. Moreover, they believe that such actions undermine federal immigration and security responsibilities.

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Local business owner Jessie Fuentes has taken legal action against Abbott and the state of Texas over the floating barriers. Fuentes, who owns Epi’s Canoe & Kayak Team, filed a lawsuit claiming that the buoys will halt his business, as they prevent him from giving tours on the Rio Grande. He sees the barriers as causing imminent and irreparable harm and questions Abbott’s authority to deploy them in the river.

Who is Greg Abbott?

Greg Abbott, born on November 13, 1957, is a prominent American politician and attorney, currently serving as the 48th Governor of Texas since 2015. He has had a long and illustrious political career, having previously held positions such as the 50th Attorney General of Texas from 2002 to 2015 and a justice of the Texas Supreme Court from 1996 to 2001.

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As governor, Abbott has been known for his staunchly conservative agenda, promoting issues such as stricter abortion laws, lenient gun regulations, opposition to illegal immigration, and support for law enforcement funding. He has aligned himself with former President Donald Trump’s policies and has been a vocal advocate for conservative principles in Texas.