Oppose Texas's Illegal Seizure of Nine Rio Grande Islands

Oppose Texas's unilateral seizure of nine Rio Grande islands between Laredo and McAllen. This action violates the 1970 Boundary Treaty, which establishes that the International Boundary and Water Commission is the sole authority for determining the international boundary. Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham authorized the Texas National Guard to occupy these islands on October 26 without IBWC approval, which the treaty's Article IV explicitly requires. Texas A&M water law scholar Gabriel Eckstein confirms that the boundary and title to these islands were already established by international treaty. The claim that they were "unclaimed" is simply false. Mexico's Foreign Ministry is right: island ownership shifts with the river channel, and only the IBWC can make that call. A state land office does not get to override a binding international agreement because it finds the process inconvenient. Mexico is a sovereign nation and a treaty partner. Letting a state government seize disputed international territory without any federal or binational process sets a dangerous precedent. Condemn this action and demand that the IBWC process be followed before any further access, clearing, or patrolling of these islands continues.