First look at wall of buoys installed in river at Texas border

Published January 7, 2026 10:42am ET



EXCLUSIVE — The Trump administration on Tuesday began laying a wall of buoys in the Rio Grande, which serves as the international boundary between the United States and Mexico.

The Washington Examiner was the only news outlet on the ground in Brownsville, Texas, on Tuesday morning as contractors laid the first of 538 miles-worth of massive, floating cylinders down the center of the river.

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.