Texas Land Commissioner Buckingham Identifies Nine State-Owned Islands Along Texas-Mexico Border
AUSTIN, Texas— Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., announced that the Texas General Land Office (GLO) has identified nine islands along the Texas-Mexico border, totaling roughly 66 acres, as property belonging to the State of Texas. The determination of these islands by the GLO resolves any uncertainty pertaining to jurisdiction and ensures these strategically located lands can be appropriately accessed, monitored, and protected by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas Military Department (TMD).
Commissioner Buckingham is coordinating with state and federal law enforcement partners to ensure authorities have the necessary coordinates in order to conduct border security operations, address any illegal activity and protect the surrounding communities.
“As Texas Land Commissioner, I have a responsibility to protect every acre of state land entrusted to the General Land Office. For years, the ownership of these islands has been uncertain, limiting the ability to ensure they are properly monitored and protected,” said Commissioner Buckingham. “Now that the GLO has confirmed these nine islands belong to the State of Texas, we are notifying our law enforcement partners so that they can gain access to these state-owned properties to patrol, inspect and clear them of any illegal activity they may encounter, consistent with the law. Texas land will never become a safe haven for cartels, human traffickers, smugglers, or other criminal organizations.”
Click the image to watch Commissioner Buckingham discuss The Texas Engine Pillar 5: Protect It
In her letter to DPS and TMD, Commissioner Buckingham noted:
“This effort builds on the GLO’s work to establish ownership of Rio Grande islands and ensure law enforcement can access state-owned property. While we have not confirmed criminal activity on these additional islands, past experience has shown how border islands can be exploited by cartels and smugglers. In 2023, I declared Fronton Island, a 170-acre island in Starr County, state land. Following that declaration, DPS and TMD cleared vegetation through Operation Flat Top, helping disrupt criminal activity at the site.”
The announcement also marks the culmination of the final pillar, “Protect It” of the GLO’s Texas Engine: Fueled, Fed, and Fortified Initiative. The GLO will always remain focused on safeguarding Texas land, supporting law enforcement, and protecting the resources and infrastructure essential to the state’s security.
In 2023, Commissioner Buckingham declared Fronton Island, a 170-acre island in Starr County, state land. After her declaration, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas Military Department (TMD) cleared the land of vegetation through Operation Flat Top, and crime at this border hotspot was halted dramatically.
In October 2024, Commissioner Buckingham announced that the GLO had acquired a 1,402-acre ranch along the Rio Grande at Starr County's border with Mexico to build the border wall. Less than 24 hours later, Commissioner Buckingham signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC), authorizing them to begin state border wall construction.
In November 2024, she sent the Trump Administration a letter offering the newly acquired land for the construction of deportation facilities and staging areas to carry out the Trump Administration’s plans to deport violent criminal illegal immigrants. Paneling on 1.5 miles of border wall was completed on this property in Starr County in January 2025.
Click the button below to read the letters to DPS and TMD:
Commissioner Buckingham's Letters
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Dr. Dawn Buckingham made history in 2022, winning a statewide election to become Texas' first female Land Commissioner. As Land Commissioner, Dr. Dawn Buckingham is committed to helping Texans after a disaster, supporting Texas energy, ensuring that every child in Texas receives a high-quality public education, serving Texas Veterans, and securing the border to keep our communities safe.
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