Texas Border: More Rio Grande Barriers Coming, DHS says

Cost to taxpayers likely enormous

Jul 03, 2025

The US Department of Homeland Security wants to install a massive 17-mile-long barrier like this one in the Rio Grande downriver of a much smaller barrier Texas installed at a known illegal crossing point in Eagle Pass in 2023. — The US Department of Homeland Security plans to install a massive 17-mile-long barrier, similar to this one. (Photo from Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott)

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plans to install more floating barriers to prevent illegal crossings of the Rio Grande, far downstream from the barrier installed by the State of Texas near Eagle Pass in 2023.

The "RGV Waterborne Barrier Project" will be located between the border cities of Brownsville, Texas, and Matamoros, Mexico. It will span 17 miles of the Rio Grande, dwarfing the 1,000-foot-long river barrier Texas built. The DHS has not indicated what the barrier might cost, but, given that the much smaller Texas barrier cost state taxpayers $1 million to install, the price tag is likely to be enormous.

Installation of Rio Grande buoy barrier by the State of Texas in Eagle Pass (July 2023) — Installation of 1,000 1,000-foot-long Rio Grande buoy barrier by the State of Texas in Eagle Pass in July 2023 (State of Texas photo)

The Washington Post has reported that, in 2020, during President Trump's first term in office, his administration rejected a proposal to install the same buoy barriers in the Rio Grande and that "(U.S. Customs & Border Protection) opted against installing the buoy system because it was expected to increase drownings and risks to U.S. agents conducting water rescues.”

This Border Patrol barrier system swimming pool test raised safety concerns, leading to its rejection during Trump's first administration. (U.S. Customs & Border Protection/U.S. Border Patrol photo)

However, in the years since Texas installed them during the Biden Administration, those safety fears have not materialized.

And, in its news release announcing the new bouy barrier section, the DHS says it will "create a safer border environment for patrolling agents, as well as deter illegal aliens from attempting to illegally cross the border through dangerous waterways."

Although no construction schedule has been released, the DHS says this "Waterborne Barrier Project" is being fast-tracked by the agency because "a capability gap has been identified in waterways along the Southwest border where drug smuggling, human trafficking, and other dangerous and illegal activity occurs."