Documents obtained by Hearst Newspapers have shed light on the detrimental consequences of the razor wire barrier erected by the state of Texas along the Rio Grande. The wire obstructs Border Patrol agents from accessing at-risk migrants, including families with infants and unaccompanied children, and exacerbates the peril of drownings.
The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) document, dated June 26 and believed to be from the agency’s Eagle Pass Station, raises concerns about the state’s deployment of concertina wire, highlighting the lack of a viable alternative route for agents.
The state’s deployment of wire along a significant stretch of the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, an area witnessing a surge in Venezuelan and Cuban migrants over the past year, has impeded Border Patrol agents from reaching asylum-seekers. Some migrants have reported being stranded in the river for hours or even days, exposed to harsh elements with minimal assistance from Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers, as reported by The Houston Chronicle.
To view the full story, visit https://www.reformaustin.org/border/texas-razor-wire-barrier-puts-lives-at-risk-along-rio-grande-documents-reveal/