Manifest Destiny: Texas Claims Rio Grande Land in Fight Against Cartels
Nine Islands Added to Texas
Texas announced that nine islands in the Rio Grande have been identified as state property, adding roughly 66 acres to its territory along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Texas General Land Office confirmed the islands’ status to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Border Security Rationale
Buckingham said the action aims to ensure the islands cannot serve as safe havens for criminal groups operating in the region. She described the effort as part of Texas’s work during the border crisis.
She is reportedly coordinating with state and federal law enforcement to make sure officers and agents use accurate land-navigation coordinates in border security operations. Buckingham told NewsNation the action takes the islands “off the map” for possible cartel use.
No Activity Confirmed There
No cartel activity has been confirmed on these nine islands. Buckingham said there have been other cases in which cartels used islands along the border to carry out transnational organized crime, according to NewsNation.
The stated aim is to establish operational control of the border and deny criminal groups a refuge on Texas land. Buckingham characterized the change as making Texas bigger again.
Key points
- Texas identified nine Rio Grande islands as state property, covering about 66 acres.
- Buckingham said the move is intended to prevent criminal groups from using the islands as safe havens.
- State and federal law enforcement are coordinating on navigation coordinates for border operations.
- No cartel activity has been confirmed on these specific islands.