Body found in river buoys on border with Mexico amid criticism of politics

MEXICO CITY, Aug 2 (Reuters) – A body was found stuck in a barrier of buoys installed by Texas authorities in the Rio Grande River that straddles the U.S.-Mexico border, Mexico’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday, as it expressed new safety concerns over floating fence.

Authorities are working to identify the body found in the river and determine the cause of death, according to a statement from Mexico’s foreign ministry.

The crossing is a popular area for migrants seeking to reach the United States.

The Texas government installed the barrier last month, saying at the time that the buoys would “help deter illegal immigrants attempting to cross the dangerous river into Texas.”

“We are concerned about the impact on migrants’ human rights and personal security that these state policies may have, as they go in the opposite direction of close cooperation,” the Mexican ministry said.

The Texas government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mexico has sent two diplomatic letters to the United States saying the barrier violates a water treaty and could encroach on Mexican territory, according to a statement by Mexican authorities released last week.

The US Justice Department also showed opposition to the buoys by suing Texas last month, arguing they pose a threat to navigation and public safety and pose humanitarian concerns.

A joint letter from more than 60 organizations was sent to Texas state lawmakers on Tuesday urging them to end “violent border strategies” and remove the buoys from the Rio Grande River, the Border Network for Human Rights organization said in a declaration.

Reporting by Valentine Hilaire and Daina Solomon; Editing by Stephen Coates

Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.