The Trump administration is not just focusing on fortifying the southern border by land; it’s also planning to enhance security by water. This involves establishing an extensive buoy barrier along the Rio Grande.

According to U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks, who spoke with the Washington Examiner, the initiative is slated to begin in 2026. It aims to install a 500-mile defense line across this critical water boundary between the United States and Mexico.

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Banks noted that the buoy barrier concept was originally developed during Trump’s first term. However, progress was halted when Joe Biden assumed the presidency.

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EXCLUSIVE by @Anna_Giaritelli – Trump administration installing 500-mile wall of buoys in Rio Grande pic.twitter.com/Lmzrs9sEzp

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) December 23, 2025

Banks said the buoy barrier was initially planned during Trump’s first administration, but when former President Joe Biden took office, everything stopped.

The border patrol chief explained that the contracts were signed and they were prepared to “start deploying” the buoys, but the Biden administration decided they weren’t going to undertake that kind of infrastructure.

Banks said after he left the border patrol, he went to work for Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott as the Texas Border Czar. They worked on the buoy project, but just in the Lone Star state.

He said it worked great as a deterrent, and so this new barrier project will get underway soon.

“Texas proved what U.S. border patrol believed under Trump 45 that this would be an effective barrier as part of our total border wall system,” Banks said. “So, we’ve been moving forward on that rapidly.”

“We’re going to start laying the first string of those buoys down in the Rio Grande Valley in the first part of 2026,” he added. “The contracts are in place. The prework is being done. They’re very effective.”

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Banks then elaborated on what they really provide.

“What they really do is they push our border right to the border,” the chief said. “As you’ve seen when you’re looking at the border wall, oftentimes that wall is several feet to as much as miles north of the border because of those flood plains along the river.”

“This allows us to put early detection and deterrent right down the center of the river on the actual international boundary line,” he added. “And gives us that first point of detection of those trying to enter the country illegally.”

Banks made it clear that Trump is aware of the buoy border and said that the level of support the border patrol agency is getting from the president and his administration is “unprecedented.”

Crews are working nonstop, overcoming every obstacle to reinforce our border. The mission never stops and neither do we. Each mile of wall built delivers greater operational control and a safer homeland.@usbpchieftca pic.twitter.com/tsAwHIUmmu

— Chief Michael W. Banks (@USBPChief) December 20, 2025

“He listens to us, and he supports us,” the patrol chief said. “I have never seen this much support from a president and a Secretary that we get from Trump and Secretary [of Homeland Security Kristi] Noem.”

This buoy barrier comes after the border patrol under Trump 47 got back to work to reinforce the physical wall along the border states of California, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Promises kept.

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