Texas Claims 27 Hectares of Rio Grande Islands as Midterms Loom
Mexico’s President Sheinbaum cites election timing in response to state land commissioner’s announcement.
By Robert Ward ·
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum challenged the Texas state government’s recent land claims on Tuesday, arguing that the timing of the announcement coincides with the U.S. midterm elections. She rejected the notion that a state authority can unilaterally determine the sovereignty of border territories without federal or bilateral review.
During her morning press conference, Sheinbaum stated that officials in Texas are using the current political climate to assert ownership over specific river islands. "They are in elections and want to say declaratively that these islands are already part of Texas. But no," she said. When asked directly if she believed the move was driven by electoral motives, she confirmed, "Yes, from my point of view, yes."
The dispute centers on nine islands in the Rio Grande, known locally as the Rio Bravo. Dawn Buckingham, the Texas Land Commissioner, announced last week that these islands, which cover a combined area of approximately 27 hectares, have been identified as state property. Buckingham explained that the designation would allow state and federal security forces to access the land to strengthen border surveillance and combat illicit activities.
The timeline of the conflict began in early 2025, when rising tensions between the two nations increased following Donald Trump’s return to the White House. These migratory and political frictions set the stage for the current land dispute. On October 30, the Mexican Foreign Ministry formally rejected the idea that Texas could modify the border on its own. The ministry pointed to the 1970 Boundary Treaty, which establishes that the international division follows the center of the river’s normal channel.
Sheinbaum emphasized that the International Boundary and Water Commission, or CILA, holds the exclusive authority to determine the location of these features. "First, the Government of Texas does not decide. All of that is decided through a commission," she noted. She explained that islands can form naturally as the river shifts, and it is the CILA’s role to determine which side of the border each new formation belongs to.
The Mexican Foreign Ministry stated it will monitor any actions taken in the area. The CILA remains the primary body tasked with applying the bilateral treaties governing the border between Mexico and the United States. The state of Texas maintains that its identification of the islands is a procedural step to secure the territory for security operations.
The announcement arrives on the same day as U.S. legislative elections. Sheinbaum’s comments link the land claim to the political cycle in Austin and Washington. The 27 hectares of land in question lie within the river's active course, a zone where natural changes frequently alter the physical geography of the border.
