CBP says it’s not responsible for runaway border buoys

Key Points:

• The World Trade Bridge in Laredo, Texas, the nation’s largest inland commercial port, reopened without structural damage after being temporarily closed due to hundreds of loose border buoys caught under it during Rio Grande floodwaters.
• The bridge, which handles up to 20,000 vehicles and nearly $1 billion in daily cross-border trade, was closed out of caution, with efforts underway by multiple agencies to retrieve the 1-ton buoys as floodwaters recede from a peak of 18 feet.
• The buoys, intended to be deployed as a waterborne barrier to prevent illegal immigration, were swept away while still under contractor control and had not yet been transferred to U.S. Border Patrol, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
• U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar criticized the federal government for the incident, emphasizing that despite contractor involvement, the government bears responsibility for the buoys, and questioned the International Boundary and Water Commission’s approval of the deployment amid flood risks.
• Cuellar noted the recent flooding was moderate compared to 2010 but highlighted that the presence of the buoys posed a new hazard not seen in previous floods, implying concerns about their durability and safety in high water conditions.