Texas now considers nine islands in the Rio Grande to be state land, Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham announced, a decision that lets state troopers and the Texas Military Department patrol them.
The islands total roughly 66 acres and lie along the river between the Laredo area and McAllen, according to a map the General Land Office released. The agency said it reached its conclusion after reviewing historical records, surveys and other information.
The review grew out of questions from U.S. Customs and Border Protection about 28 islands whose ownership had never been established, News 4 San Antonio reported. The land office concluded that nine of them belong to Texas.
Letters to law enforcement
In letters to the Department of Public Safety and the Texas Military Department, Buckingham told the agencies they may enter the islands for border security work. Her office said it is sharing the islands' coordinates with state and federal law enforcement.
"For years, the ownership of these islands has been uncertain, limiting the ability to ensure they are properly monitored and protected," Buckingham said in a statement. She said officers will be able "to patrol, inspect and clear them of any illegal activity they may encounter, consistent with the law."
The agency also said it has not confirmed any criminal activity on the nine islands. In the letters, Buckingham pointed to the state's past experience with river islands as the reason for acting.
