Kristi Noem fast-tracks construction of floating water barriers in Texas

On July 3, 2025, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem signed a waiver aimed at accelerating the placement of a significant segment of floating water barriers in the Rio Grande. This waiver enables the bypassing of various environmental regulations, including the National Environmental Policy Act, and marks the sixth such waiver issued by Noem. The planned construction covers a distance of approximately 17 miles in Cameron County, Texas, specifically targeting the U.S. Border Patrol's Rio Grande Valley Sector. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance border security by preventing illegal crossings via the river. The floating barriers are considered a necessary response to what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) views as a critical gap in capabilities along the Southwest border. DHS officials have highlighted concerns regarding drug smuggling, human trafficking, and other dangerous activities occurring in the waterways. They argue that these barriers are intended to not only deter illegal crossings but also to create a safer environment for Border Patrol agents conducting surveillance and enforcement operations. The project, funded through previously allocated resources due to canceled border wall contracts under the Biden administration, reflects the continued prioritization of immigration enforcement initiatives. Despite the stated goals, local sentiment around such border projects is divided. Many residents in the Rio Grande Valley, a region that predominantly supported Trump in the 2024 elections, express concerns about the impacts of increased border security measures. Critics argue that the border build-up drains essential resources from communities and contributes to racial profiling against Latino populations. Activists have raised alarms about civil rights violations, likening the area to a