U.S. Justice Department planning legal action over floating Texas border barriers

FILE PHOTO: Station One Company C, Captain Luis Gonzalez, looks out at an unfinished orange buoy barrier placed in the Rio Grande River in response to migrants crossing the river, near Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S., July 11, 2023. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice intends to take legal action over floating barriers installed by the state of Texas in the Rio Grande River that blocks migrants crossing from Mexico, according to a DOJ letter to top Texas officials.

The letter sent on Thursday to Republican Governor Greg Abbott and Texas' interim attorney general, said large plastic buoys installed earlier this month near the city of Eagle Pass illegally obstruct navigation on the river.