Texas officials have identified nine islands in the Rio Grande as state-owned property, potentially giving state law enforcement greater access to the islands as part of border security operations.
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham announced Oct. 26 that the Texas General Land Office determined the nine islands, which cover approximately 66 acres combined, belong to the State of Texas.
The islands are located along the Texas-Mexico border, stretching from the Laredo area toward the Rio Grande Valley.
The General Land Office conducted a review of historical records, surveys and other information regarding ownership of islands in the river after U.S. Customs and Border Protection raised questions about the ownership of several islands.
The review determined that nine of the islands are owned by Texas.
The ownership determination allows the Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Military Department to access the properties as part of their duties along the border.
Buckingham is working with state and federal law enforcement agencies to provide coordinates for the islands so officials can identify the state-owned properties during border operations.
“Now that the GLO has confirmed these nine islands belong to the State of Texas,” law enforcement agencies can access the properties to patrol, inspect and address illegal activity, Buckingham said.
The state has not said that criminal activity has occurred on any of the nine islands.
However, Buckingham pointed to previous incidents involving islands in the Rio Grande associated with smuggling and other criminal activity.
In 2023, Buckingham declared Fronton Island in Starr County to be state property. The 170-acre island subsequently became the site of a Texas operation involving the Department of Public Safety and the Texas Military Department.
The General Land Office said the operation, known as Operation Flat Top, was intended to disrupt criminal activity and improve access to the island.
The latest determination comes as Texas continues to use state property and resources as part of its broader border security efforts.
The General Land Office said the ownership review involved 28 islands in the Rio Grande. Of those, nine were determined to belong to Texas, while the remaining islands were not included in the state’s ownership determination.
Buckingham said establishing ownership of the nine islands will provide greater clarity for state officials and allow law enforcement agencies to monitor the properties.
“Texas land will never become a safe haven for cartels, human traffickers, smugglers, or other criminal organizations,” Buckingham said.
The General Land Office’s determination does not indicate that the nine islands have been used for criminal activity. Rather, state officials say establishing ownership gives Texas and its law enforcement partners clearer authority to access and monitor the properties.
