Border "Cartel Islands" Fight Erupts Among Texas Agencies
Ruckus on Rio Grande
Three Texas State Agencies are openly squabbling over claims that two Rio Grande islands on the border with Mexico are being used by Cartel Smugglers and Gunrunners. Two years ago, those agencies - The Texas Military Department (TMD), Department of Public Safety (DPS), and General Land Office (GLO) - worked together to take control of another island they all agreed was being used as a Gulf Cartel smuggling outpost.
The GLO declared that the 170-acre island (which was essentially a "no man's land") was state property, allowing the TMD and DPS to seize it and strip it of vegetation that provided cover for cartel activities.
On March 31, 2025, Texas Land Commissioner Dr. Dawn Buckingham issued a news release announcing that two more "cartel-ridden border islands" had been identified as a “smuggler's paradise." GLO surveys determined that one of the islands (12-acre Roma Island) was state land, while the other (20-acre Beaver Island) was jointly owned by the state and the federal government. She also sent a letter to President Trump seeking permission to remove the vegetation from the US land at the same time the state land is cleared, and asking federal law enforcement to coordinate with Texas authorities to patrol and police it.
Dr. Buckingham's news release rankled the TMD and DPS.
On April 3, 2025, they issued a joint statement (without naming Buckingham or her agency) complaining about "public reports mischaracterizing Beaver Island and Roma Island—two small islands along the Texas-Mexico border—as a “cartel-infested” “smuggler’s paradise,” “plagued by” rampant violence. These reports are inaccurate," the joint statement said.
The quotes in their statement (seen below) came from Dr. Buckingham's News Release.
Dr. Buckingham has responded by releasing an email (seen below) the GLO received from the TMD in February stating the islands "are being used by cartels for smuggling operations and stash sites for weapons and other illicit activities" (and that) "clearing these islands would significantly enhance border security and improve the safety of both Texas Military Department (TMD) soldiers and U.S. Border Patrol Agents."
Dr. Buckingham also issued a statement of concern that "there appears to be a concerted effort to smear my name and the work of the General Land Office --- while we're all trying to do our best to protect Texans and their property."
The statement concluded with her respect for "the brave men and women of DPS and TMD and the heroic work they do in keeping Texas families safe."
Now that all three state agencies have made their views on the matter clear, perhaps they can move on to clearing these newly identified "cartel islands."
Should Texas continue clearing the "Cartel Islands" on the Rio Grande?
Share your opinion in the comments to this article.
Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
Hey Abbott! Straighten these guys out, please.
These little squabbles and back biting are pretty common in State governments. It won't take long to figure it out. Still needs to take action, and TMD and DPS didn't message the President that they were withdrawing the original letter.
The letter should protect State's land rights in any further action.
Meanwhile, what does Homeland Security say? Overhead and ground surveillance should be able to provide the right picture nicely. Texas Guard is embedded with Bortder Patrol. They've got drones, aircraft, and Stryker right there, what do THEY say about the islands?
Absolutely clear them off.