DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Unveils New Water Buoy Barriers Along Rio Grande Border

In its latest effort to deter illegal crossings in Southeast Texas, the Department of Homeland Security this week unveiled new water buoy barriers that are already being installed along the Rio Grande near Brownsville, with officials revealing the system is designed to span as much as 500 miles of the border.

During a Jan. 7 news conference, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the purpose of the barriers is to make it significantly more difficult for undocumented migrants, as well as drug and human traffickers, to cross the river into the United States.

"Those barriers, and these ones behind me, are going to save our lives and going to save illegal alien lives," Noem said. "It will help stop the drug trafficking that's devastating our next generation of Americans, and it will also make sure that we're stopping the human trafficking that we've seen for so many years."

Noem was joined by U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks during her one day visit to Brownsville. The officials held a roundtable discussion with local ranchers to gather feedback on border security and toured the site where the barriers are being deployed.

"What you are seeing today are border buoy barriers placed directly along the international boundary line to reduce illegal crossings," Banks said. "We tested these systems in Texas and found them to be effective. What is being installed now is an updated version of what the state previously used."

Banks said the new barriers differ from earlier models, as the new versions are cylindrical rather than round, measure about four to five feet in diameter and are roughly 15 feet long.

According to Border Report, the updated buoys offer improved flotation and are equipped with fiber optic sensors capable of detecting attempts to climb over them.

"When someone tries to get on top of the buoys, they roll backward, which prevents climbing," Banks said. "The cylindrical shape also provides better flotation, giving us greater control of the system."

Noem said the installation of the barriers is necessary and described them as a long term investment. She said the 15 foot long buoys are expected to remain in place for many years.

"These barriers will make it far more difficult for illegal aliens, drug smugglers and human traffickers to cross the river and other waterways where they are deployed," Noem said. "Securing these waterways protects Americans and also saves lives by discouraging dangerous river crossings."

The buoy expansion is funded through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included more than $46 billion for border barriers, though DHS has not specified how much of that funding will be allocated to buoy systems.

A DHS spokesperson said during the Jan. 7 event that the first set of buoys was deployed a day earlier between Brownsville and Matamoros. Banks later told Border Report that more than 90 percent of the planned 500 miles of buoy barriers are expected to be installed in Texas.

According to Noem, more than 130-miles of the buoys are already under contract.