AUSTIN, Texas— Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., directed Texas General Land Office (GLO) Asset Enhancement Department staff to identify tracts of GLO-managed land along the border, particularly in Hudspeth County and other high-risk areas, that could be vulnerable to cartel tunnel activity. While on their routine land inspections, GLO field personnel are being tasked with surveilling these properties using existing aerial and drone technology to detect possible tunnel entrances or suspicions of underground activity.
Within the past year, cartel tunnels have been discovered in San Diego and El Paso, prompting The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to expand its Persistent Surveillance and Detection System to strengthen tunnel detection capabilities along high-risk areas of the southwest border. The announcement follows recent actions by the Trump Administration and DHS, including a $100 million-dollar federal investment in advancing border tunnel detection technology managed by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), which will deploy across the Southwest U.S. Border beginning on November 10.
GLO state land terrain in Brewster County
Additionally, under President Trump’s leadership, Mexican cartels have been formally designated as foreign terrorist organizations, granting the federal government broader authority to conduct law enforcement and intelligence operations against these violent criminals. This designation underscores the severity of the danger they pose to Texas families and to the United States.
Since taking office, Commissioner Buckingham has prioritized using every available GLO resource to assist state and federal partners in gaining complete operational control of the Texas border.
“Texas stands on the front lines of America’s fight for border security,” said Commissioner Buckingham. “The cartels are constantly adapting, moving from the skies and waterways to underground networks of tunnels, and we will not cede an inch of land to these violent illegal criminals. The safety and sovereignty of our state are non-negotiable, and the General Land Office will use every tool at our disposal to keep Texas safe. Texans overwhelmingly expect action–and that’s exactly what they’re getting.” Commissioner Buckingham added. “Together with President Trump’s Administration, DHS, CBP, and Governor Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, Texas will continue to lead the fight against illegal crossings–above ground and below it."
The GLO will coordinate with federal counterparts to identify high-risk areas for tunnel construction and strengthen security measures along GLO-managed lands.
Throughout Commissioner Buckingham’s tenure, the GLO has been a steadfast ally to our partners in Washington who seek to safeguard Americans, support law enforcement operations, and ensure the security and prosperity of our communities.
In 2023, Commissioner Buckingham declared Fronton Island, a 170-acre island in Starr County, state land. After her declaration, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas Military Department (TMD) cleared the land of vegetation through Operation Flat Top, and crime at this border hotspot was halted dramatically.
In October 2024, Commissioner Buckingham announced that the GLO had acquired a 1,402-acre ranch along the Rio Grande at Starr County's border with Mexico to build the border wall. Less than 24 hours later, Commissioner Buckingham signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC), authorizing them to begin state border wall construction.
In November 2024, she sent the Trump Administration a letter offering the newly acquired land for the construction of deportation facilities and staging areas to carry out the Trump Administration’s plans to deport violent criminal illegal immigrants. Paneling on 1.5 miles of border wall was completed on this property in January 2025.
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Dr. Dawn Buckingham made history in 2022, winning a statewide election to become Texas' first female Land Commissioner. As Land Commissioner, Dr. Dawn Buckingham is committed to helping Texans after a disaster, supporting Texas energy, ensuring that every child in Texas receives a high-quality public education, serving Texas Veterans, and securing the border to keep our communities safe.