Some social media users and politicians say such a device has been placed in the Rio Grande River to purposefully injure those who try and enter the US from Mexico.
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00:00 the US state of Texas installed a floating barrier equipped with circular chainsaws to
00:04 prevent illegal immigrants from crossing. Some social media users and politicians say
00:10 such a device has been placed in the Rio Grande River to purposefully injure those who dare
00:15 to try and enter the US from Mexico. Let`s take a closer look at these claims.
00:25 The viral video was originally posted on the social media platform X, formerly known as
00:29 Twitter by the Democrat Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. She had recently traveled to the US-Mexico
00:35 border to document the new anti-immigration measures taken by the Republican governor
00:40 of Texas, Greg Abbott.
00:53 Multiple politicians in the US and abroad are claiming that these orange barrels are
00:57 not only meant to deter migrants, but also to injure and even kill them due to what they
01:02 claim are circular chainsaws attached to the buoys. This floating barrier was installed
01:07 in July close to the town of Eagle Pass, located on the bank of the Rio Grande River, bordering
01:13 Mexico and the United States. It`s part of the state`s anti-immigration operation called
01:18 Lone Star. In a press release published in August, Texas authorities said the operation
01:23 was a success, claiming to have arrested nearly 402,000 illegal immigrants in the past two
01:29 years.
01:30 But the razor-like blades seen on the orange barrels aren`t technically circular chainsaws
01:35 because they aren`t motor-powered. According to a report by Texas Public Radio, these are
01:41 serrated metal plates that look like circular saw blades between each buoy to deter anyone
01:46 from climbing over it. So, it`s more of a floating barbed wire.
01:50 However, a Texas state trooper deployed as part of Operation Lone Star had told a superior
01:55 the razor wire and buoys are nothing more than an inhumane trap. Since the installation
02:01 of this barrier, bodies of migrants have been discovered in the river. Texas officials say
02:06 the men likely drowned upstream. One body was even caught in the buoys.
02:12 In mid-July, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Greg Abbott over the floating device
02:16 claiming it threatened public safety and violated treaties with Mexico. But Abbott remained
02:21 defiant and in a letter to the U.S. President Joe Biden said, "Texas will see you in court."
02:27 For more fact checks and investigations, check out our website, euronews.com.
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