One of the most important tasks we handle the General Land Office is securing our southern border. It began decades ago with levees for flight mitigation that happened to have a border fence on top. It has expanded to more significant measures.
Not long after coming into office, I received a request from DPS to claim several islands in the Rio Grande that were law enforcement free zones and havens for the cartels. Once claimed the Texas Military Department and DPS swiftly removed all criminal activity, cleared the island of vegetation and structures and installed razor wire along the river.
Operation Flat Top is a testament to state agencies working together to gain complete operational control of our border.
Today, the ranch you're visiting has a troubled history of border violence, including ‘rape trees,’ drug trafficking and human smuggling. With the acquisition of this 1,400 acre ranch, the GLO has secured over 4,000 acres of borderland in Starr County, land crucial for Texas to effectively tackle the challenges at our border
Within just 24 hours of acquiring this ranch, the GLO granted the Texas Facilities Commission the easement to commence construction on a one-and-a half-mile stretch of border wall. This prompt action exemplifies our commitment to stopping illegal immigration, drug smuggling and human trafficking.
This ranch is part of the GLO’s broader efforts to protect the Lone Star State by collaborating with Texas DPS, the Texas Military Department and other state agencies. We are taking real, measurable steps to secure our border.
As a mom, my heart goes out to the families affected by the border crisis. That is why the GLO has established the Jocelyn Initiative, aimed at identifying land under my purview to be used for the construction of deportation facilities to remove violent criminal illegal immigrants.
I am committed to working with the Trump administration and local officials to ensure that our sons and daughters are no longer victims of these criminals. This ranch has witnessed firsthand the horrors of illegal activity, including the tragic use of ‘rape trees’ as symbols of violence and exploitation. By securing this land, we are reclaiming the safety and well being of our communities and families.
The General Land Office will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that our state is safe, our border secure, and our resources benefit Texas. Together, we are building a safer, stronger Texas for generations to come. May God bless you, and may God continue to bless the great State of Texas.
Editor's Note: The above remarks were delivered by Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham as part of a longer commentary in a video produced by the Texas General Land Office for the Rio Grande Valley Partnership's 2025 RGV Legislative Tour.
