Mexico defends border after Texas claims nine Rio Grande islands, Digi Mart USA News (Mexico): Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Tuesday attributed to electoral interests the decision by Texas authorities to claim nine islands in the Rio Grande, the river that forms part of the border with the United States, and rejected the idea that the state government can unilaterally determine the sovereignty of those territories.
Speaking at her morning press conference, Sheinbaum said of the Texas officials, “They are in elections and declaratively intend to say these islands are already part of Texas. But no.” When asked whether she believed the claim was motivated by electoral considerations, she answered, “Yes, from my point of view, yes.” Her remarks referred to the U.S.
midterm elections held that day.
The president explained that the International Boundary and Water Commission (CILA), the bilateral body responsible for applying border treaties between Mexico and the United States, has the responsibility of delimiting these territories. “First, the Government of Texas does not decide.
All of that is decided through a commission,” she stressed.
Sheinbaum also noted that natural shifts in the course of the Rio Grande can form new islands. For that reason, it is up to CILA to determine on which side of the border each territory lies.
Her comments came after Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham announced the previous week that officials had identified nine Rio Grande islands as property of the state. Together, the territories cover about 27 hectares.
The Texas official argued the measure would allow state and federal security forces to access the islands to strengthen border surveillance and combat possible illicit activity.
On October 30, Mexico’s Secretariat of Foreign Affairs (SRE) rejected the idea that Texas could unilaterally modify the border between the two countries. The ministry recalled that the 1970 Boundary Treaty establishes that the international division follows the center of the normal channel of the Rio Grande.
It also said that only CILA has authority to determine on which side of the international boundary each island lies, and that Mexico will monitor any action in the area.
The dispute arises during U.S. midterm legislative elections and amid migration tensions between Mexico and the United States.
Relations between the two governments have intensified since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, particularly over migration policies and border security enforcement.
