As part of a new approach to border security, hundreds of miles of barriers will be floating on the Rio Grande, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Wednesday in Brownsville.

Noem was in the Rio Grande Valley to announce the deployment of the border buoys — large cylinders that are 15 feet long and five feet wide.

According to Noem, the buoys will stop illegal crossings at the border. 

READ MORE: Trump administration to add 500 miles of migrant-deterring buoys along Rio Grande

“Innovation and improvement is important, and that’s why today we're announcing the next steps to secure our border,” Noem said. “[These water barriers] are the first in the nation and they're right here in Brownsville.”

DHS deployed the barriers on Tuesday, and said they'll stretch up to 500 miles of the river. The barriers were purchased with funds from the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

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