Aug. 3 (UPI) -- The Mexican government has reported a body was found Wednesday entangled in a floating barrier, installed last month to deter migrants from crossing the Rio Grande River into Texas.
Authorities from the Texas Department of Security notified the Mexican Consulate in Eagle Pass, around 2:35 p.m., that they had found "the body of a lifeless person stuck in the southern part of the buoys," Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
At this point, there is no cause of death and no word on the victim's nationality, as authorities work to recover the body.
Last week, the Justice Department asked a judge to force Texas and Gov. Greg Abbott to remove the floating barrier in Eagle Pass, which Texas state officials call "the center of gravity for smuggling."
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The state installed the first 1,000 feet of large orange buoys last month to make it difficult for migrants to swim under or climb over.
The barrier is part of Abbott's anti-migrant measures under Operation Lone Star, launched in March 2021 after President Joe Biden took office.
Since the barrier was installed, the Justice Department and Mexico have expressed humanitarian concerns regarding its risk to public safety.
"We reiterate the position of the government of Mexico that the placement of wire buoys by the Texas authorities is a violation of our sovereignty," Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday.
"We express our concern about the impact on the human rights and personal safety of migrants that these state policies will have, which run counter to the close collaboration between our country and the federal government of the United States."
