(Texas Scorecard) – U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz  is calling for an 80-year-old water treaty to be recognized by an international agreement, so that Mexico might finally be held accountable to its terms.

In her letter to the office of the United States Trade Representative, De La Cruz (R–Edinburg) wrote of “a pattern of inconsistent and insufficient water deliveries from Mexico, particularly along the Rio Grande [that] has created a significant and persistent water deficit.”

She advocated for the recognition of the 1944 Water Treaty with Mexico in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which would provide “effective and enforceable means to hold Mexico accountable for its treaty obligations.”

The 1944 Water Treaty is an agreement between the United States and Mexico regarding how the waters of the Rio Grande and other rivers will be shared.

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Currently, the International Boundary and Water Commission oversees the enforcement of the treaty, which De La Cruz asserted “has not proven sufficient to ensure timely and predictable water deliveries.”

Mexico has not fulfilled its treaty obligations consistently since 1994. Even after the U.S. Department of State announced Mexico’s commitment to reducing its shortfalls in April, Mexico’s water deliveries are still well below the minimum threshold as of October.

Mexico’s treaty violations have detrimental consequences for Texas, with research estimating nearly $1 billion dollar losses from crop production alone in 2023.

Farmers and ranchers are not the only groups who suffer from these violations.

Daniel Rivera, executive director of the Elsa Economic Development Corporation, explained to Texas Border Business that water shortages and inconsistent water deliveries from Mexico have “begun to strain cities and stall regional development.”

“Everything slows down—construction, investment, and confidence,” Rivera continued.

Public comment, including requests seeking the inclusion of the 1944 Water Treaty in the USMCA, may be submitted here until the November 3, 2025 deadline.

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