DHS Secretary Kristi Noem visited the Rio Grande Valley and announced a massive expansion of floating border barriers, with plans to deploy 500 miles of buoy barriers measuring 4-5 feet in diameter and 32 feet long. She stated 130 miles were already under contract and beginning installation. The barrier expansion is part of Trump's 'Smart Wall' initiative funded by the 2025 spending bill. Noem claimed a 95% reduction in daily illegal border apprehensions during her visit. The buoy barriers, first deployed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in 2023, had faced legal challenges and criticism from Mexico and humanitarian groups who argued they posed drowning risks. The announcement came the same day an ICE agent shot and killed US citizen Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis during Noem's 'largest immigration operation ever.'