Texas Claims Ownership of Nine Rio Grande Islands
State officials aim to prevent smuggling by designating the river islands as Texas property for security operations.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Immigration
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Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham has designated nine islands in the Rio Grande as state property to address border security concerns. The islands, which cover approximately 66 acres, were identified following a survey of 20 separate landmasses along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Why it matters
The state intends to prevent transnational criminal organizations from using the islands as secure transit points for smuggling. Mexican officials have contested the state’s claim to the land, setting up a potential jurisdictional conflict regarding border sovereignty.
Texas officials designated 9 islands covering 66 acres as state property after surveying 20 total sites in the Rio Grande. This follows the 2023 claim of the 170-acre Fronton Island, which federal authorities later asserted as U.S. property in 2024.
The players
Dawn Buckingham
She serves as the Texas Land Commissioner and led the formal announcement regarding the state's claim over the Rio Grande islands.
U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission
This binational agency is responsible for applying the boundary and water treaties between the United States and Mexico.
Texas Department of Public Safety
This state agency is responsible for enforcing laws and maintaining security operations across Texas.
The details
Texas officials are coordinating with state and federal law enforcement to map the islands and determine where security measures like concertina fencing may be installed. This effort mirrors previous operations on Fronton Island, where state agencies cleared vegetation to secure the area against illegal activity.
Timeline
In 2023, Texas cleared vegetation and installed fencing on Fronton Island.
In April 2024, the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission asserted that Fronton Island was federal property.
On October 27, 2026, Texas designated nine Rio Grande islands as state property.
Political Context
The state's move challenges federal and international authority defined by the 1970 Treaty to Resolve Pending Boundary Differences and Maintain the Rio Grande. This conflict highlights a growing divide between state-led border enforcement initiatives and long-standing federal jurisdictional boundaries.
Residents in border communities may notice increased activity from state law enforcement as officials survey the islands to identify necessary security infrastructure. The designation establishes state control over the land, which could lead to new fencing or road closures in the immediate area.
The takeaway
The state's move to claim these islands underscores the ongoing tension between local, state, and federal authorities over border security management. Stakeholders should monitor for potential legal challenges from federal agencies or international counterparts as security infrastructure plans proceed.
Further reading
For more context on ongoing border operations, read the latest updates in Texas Immigration.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NewsNation.
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